Bubble Teams Heading into Championship Week: 25 Teams Fighting For About 6 Spots
This is the entire NCAA Tournament bubble heading into Championship week. Are there some teams with a less than 2% chance on the list? Certainly. Thing is – they’re alive! That’s the beauty of March Madness.
“Six spots” is pretty general – here’s Lisk’s last Bracketology – it could really be as few as four, and expect tons of movement in the next 72 hours. Heck, look how much movement there has been since mid-January!
Take Maryland. I wrote glowingly about the Terps in the preseason. Then, a point guard never emerged, and they often forget about the 7-foot-1 lottery pick who can dominate. The Terps have wins over Duke and NC State, but a weak strength of schedule, have been awful down the stretch, and need at least two wins in the ACC tourney before really getting into the discussion. One of those wins will have to be against Duke.
[RELATED: 2012-2013 College Basketball All-Americans and Player of the Year]
I figure the team that will be most-talked about this week is Middle Tennessee State, which couldn’t win the Sun Belt tournament, but has 28 wins. What matters more – 28 wins against inferior competition … or, say, Xavier having five Top 50 wins, but being far down the list on wins/RPI and having some bad losses? Iowa and Arkansas each have four Top 50 wins. With a win or two this week, does either have a case to be ahead of MTSU?
What about Baylor? Was Saturday’s thumping of Kansas enough? Probably not. Especially if a team like Richmond or Arkansas or Florida State go on a tear this week and the Bears lose in the first round of the Big 12 tourney.
Akron should have an asterisk. The Zips lost their point guard to drug dealing last week, and despite a gaudy resume, will have problems getting a ticket to the dance if they bow out early in the MAC tournament. Ohio is on here, and might win the MAC tournament. But what if the Bobcats don’t? Zero top 50 wins will obviously hurt.
So yes, this list is certainly pushing the bubble envelope, and Arizona State has virtually no business being on the list. But what if the Sun Devils peel off three wins in the Pac-12 tourney? At that point, we’ll listen to their argument. That’s why they’re here.

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116 Responses to “Bubble Teams Heading into Championship Week: 25 Teams Fighting For About 6 Spots”
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March 11th, 2013 at 2:41 PM
UVA may have saved its bacon yesterday, coming back to beat Maryland in OT. Still, I think UVA has to win a game in the ACC tourney to have a shot.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:47 PM
Wow. Only four of those teams have more than one win against the RPI top 25. Who’s the Blue Raiders best win against?
May want to add @ Nebraska as a bad loss for the Hawkeyes.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:47 PM
baylor has to win at least two games in the tourney(oak st, probably k state) to get in. they are a really hard team to figure out.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:50 PM
only way Arkansas makes it is winning the SEC Tournament.
also, props to whoever made that spreadsheet for ignoring Arkansas 20+ point losses to aTm and Vandy.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Is Iowa good at anything at this point? They still a wrestling power?
March 11th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
The team that beat Kansas this weekend can beat anyone in the country. Problem is, they’ve only showed up 3-4 times this year.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
No chart comment? Miz must be on vacation.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:55 PM
You can go ahead and stick a fork in those Akron Zips.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Nebraska had quite a few close losses in conference to the teams at the top. Might not be considered a “bad” loss. But still, tourney teams should beat the Cornfuckers.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:57 PM
NEB just wants teams like MICH ST to have their day in something other than football. The next time Sparty beats the Huskers will be the first. Literally.
/Nov 16th should be fun
March 11th, 2013 at 2:58 PM
It’s a well done chart tho. Pretty cool post TBL.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
won’t happen
March 11th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
same with the Hogs. if they played the entire NCAA tournament in Bud Walton they would be in the Final 4.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:02 PM
Just shit all over his dreams why don’t you.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Yep. It was a bad loss. Prevented them from taking 4 of their final 5 which would have given Iowa 10 conference wins. Been of the mind for weeks that they need at least one and likely two in Chicago to get a bid. 22-12 with a few good wins should sneak them in.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:03 PM
It’s March. We’re talking NCAA tourney.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:05 PM
Trey says there not even on the bubble because they’re terrible. He’s always right.
/sarcasm
March 11th, 2013 at 3:06 PM
the game is in Nashville, Hogs lose by double digits.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:06 PM
22-12 with 9 (?) B10 wins will just sneak them in? Seems like that would get them in as a 10-11 seed, no? B10 is the tits in CBB I thought?
During spring practice? That would be silly.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Just for you, Husker.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:08 PM
So does this mean Villanova is no longer a bubble team? If they lose to SJU on Weds (@ MSG) i’d be a little nervous.
Also FSU would have to win the ACCT to get a bid, which means they are not really a bubble team at all.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Fuck Maryland and Turgeron with a concrete dildo. Worst coach in America. That team has top-20 talent and a future lottery pick, and they can’t even compete in a down ACC. Blowing a 17-point lead to a reeling Virginia team? Pack your bags, Mark.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:09 PM
tiger woods > bubble teams
March 11th, 2013 at 3:10 PM
11 B1G wins if they win two in Chicago. Yes, they will still be a bubble team in that scenario. Iowa’s non-conference resembled that of Florida’s in football. They didn’t play anyone worth mentioning while losing to Virginia Tech in the ACC-B1G challenge.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Of course.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:13 PM
bubble baths > 100 putts
March 11th, 2013 at 3:13 PM
His interview on SVP & Russilo was really odd. Short answers, bad cell reception… was about as receptive as Jay Cutler is with the media. Figured he’d give a good one since SVP is a golf guy and they have a pre-existing relationship.
I didn’t watch the golf this weekend so that’s why I listed. Was hoping to learn something. Wasn’t satisfied at all. I’d bet that Ryen and Scott weren’t either.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Lunardi still has Minnesota at a 9 seed. That’s terrible. They should be in one of those 11 or 12 seed play in games, if that.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
tiger woods and urban meyer would probably be a 4 or 5 seed without bothering to add three more players.
scripty…did you see rory’s drive on 18 yesterday? MY GOD. sergio was the only other guy i saw get it over that lil rivlet of water all day and rory mustve flown it a good 20/30 yards past that. one of the biggest drives ive seen in awhile…all carry.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
I mad at him. He was bragging that he had a shower beer last night.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
also, doral sucks. it’s a fucking driving range with holes cut out…length and dumb bunkers are it’s only defense.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
It’s possible, it’s the SEC
March 11th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
did you see rory’s drive on 18 yesterday? MY GOD. sergio was the only other guy i saw get it over that lil rivlet of water all day and rory mustve flown it a good 20/30 yards past that. one of the biggest drives ive seen in awhile…all carry.
and it played into the wind too, right?
March 11th, 2013 at 3:17 PM
The team that beat Kansas this weekend can beat anyone in the country.
I’m responsible for that for trashing on Scott Drew. MP III put a spell on the game.
/MP III is a classically trained wizard.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:17 PM
he hates the media yo. you ever see this?
March 11th, 2013 at 3:19 PM
yea. that hole’s a serious cunt.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:20 PM
yea. that hole’s a serious cunt.
jason day agrees
March 11th, 2013 at 3:22 PM
If looks could kill I’m not sure a media member would have made it out of there.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
He seems like such a prick. I love watching him, but I can’t imagine hanging out with Tiger would be much fun.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
adam scott raped it nicely.
his swing is as awesome as his long putter is awful.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Didn’t know you couldn’t do that?
March 11th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Guy had ineligible Texas So in his most recent bracket.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:24 PM
/MP III is a classically trained wizard.
and i am a fan of the wizard sleeve.
i am shocked baylor beat kansas, let alone that bad. you guys have been our kryptonite during our little 4 year run we’ve had.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:25 PM
if tiger respects you, he’s probably an cool dude. i dunno why nobody’s ever tried getting him riled up on a sunday…like talk shit the whole time and get him pissed like that. go down talking shit, i always say.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:25 PM
It would be great with old Tiger, because MJ and Barkley would be there. Doubt new Tiger would be fun tho.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:26 PM
TBL Dayton meet-up for Minny v Kentucky!
The Committee loves the RBI and strength of schedule so I get why the Gophers would still register that highly
March 11th, 2013 at 3:26 PM
Greatest life motto ever.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:27 PM
adam scott
screw him and his long putter. good job posting a great score when you are out if contention, which he is great at.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:27 PM
But I thought he had an OK relationship with SVP?
March 11th, 2013 at 3:28 PM
old tiger was the best.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:29 PM
Seems like Kim Jong Un is just as crazy as his dad. Lovely.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:30 PM
oh, hans brix! so nice to see you!
March 11th, 2013 at 3:31 PM
If St. Mary’s loses tonight, not sure how they are considered a lock and MTSU is left out…
March 11th, 2013 at 3:31 PM
I had maybe 5 beers all weekend. that shower beer was after about 11 hours of laying laminate floor in my house, by myself. I feel like it was deserved and worth bragging about.
you would have been more pissed if I had told you it was a Bell’s Two Hearted, but it wasn’t. Stone IPA instead.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:32 PM
It is…inebbitible.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:33 PM
/dies young
March 11th, 2013 at 3:33 PM
i am shocked baylor beat kansas, let alone that bad. you guys have been our kryptonite during our little 4 year run we’ve had.
KU made a couple patented runs at Baylor, but Baylor didn’t flinch. Then at the end I think KU just gave up.
It was further proof that KU belongs as a #2. #1 seed talk is silly when TCU is a team that beat us.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:33 PM
That 2nd shot at no. 6. Ho-Ly Shit.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:34 PM
I bought a 4-pack of Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout. Shit is delicious. Not as good as Stone’s, but good nonetheless.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:34 PM
screw him and his long putter.
I thought this was a spencer comment at first.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:35 PM
Seems like Kim Jong Un is just as crazy as his dad. Lovely.
Someone and I were talking about this the other day. There is no way Boy Wonder can be anything other than a figurehead leader.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:35 PM
This sounds absolutely dreadful.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:35 PM
Seems like Kim Jong Un is just as crazy as his dad. Lovely.
This is the fourth time in 10 years that they’ve abrogated the armistice. I don’t think we need to start updating our draft cards just yet.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:35 PM
He makes himself forgettable. Not impressed with him at all aside from his height. He got his shit rejected by UVA center down the stretch and got beat badly on the inbounds pass that tied it up to send it to OT.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:36 PM
UVA should NOT even be considered in this whole mess…
March 11th, 2013 at 3:36 PM
More important breaking news: a judge has invalidated New York City’s ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces.
/’merica
March 11th, 2013 at 3:37 PM
dude, the ax murder thing? HOLY SHIT.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:37 PM
I could definitely see this. Perhaps the older military leaders are using him a la Iran’s religious leaders using Adjamdakjdajdada (sp?)
March 11th, 2013 at 3:38 PM
im listening to schumann and looking up axe murder stories…i think i need a vacation.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:38 PM
I had maybe no beers all weekend, and you bragging about a shower beer torqued me. I’m over it though. Delirium Tremens is in my very very near future.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:39 PM
Nevermind that they lost to Kent State and UTEP and beat no one good out of conference. They’re in the RPI inflated Big Ten.
Dude, losing to Nebraska is a BAD loss.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:39 PM
pretty sure it’s ahamandijon.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:39 PM
dude, the ax murder thing? HOLY SHIT.
That’s only one of like ten crazy things that have happened there just in the last 40 years.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:39 PM
You ever play there Spence? I played it on the Monday finish when Ogilvy won. Was there with Bridgestone. We teed off on 1 as GO was getting his trophy on 18. Played with a veteran BStone guy who played at Texas right after Crenshaw. Former PGA Tour player. He shot 71. He’s old.
/Doral has no defenses for anyone who hits the fairway
March 11th, 2013 at 3:40 PM
Well, they are playing the #1 ranked team in the nation, so I think they have some wiggle room if it’s close. I could see MTSU getting screwed because of lack of ‘brand recognition’ which pisses me off annually
March 11th, 2013 at 3:40 PM
you see the vice thing on the NK camps in siberia…essentially kim jong il farming out NK citizens as slave labor, putting NK propaganda all over the camps and they have no idea they’re in russia.
i HIGHLY recommend watching that.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:42 PM
you see the vice thing on the NK camps in siberia…essentially kim jong il farming out NK citizens as slave labor, putting NK propaganda all over the camps and they have no idea they’re in russia.
i HIGHLY recommend watching that.
You brought that to my attention several months ago. I watched every episode. The view of the outside world that the average North Korean must have has got to be pretty fucking loony.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:42 PM
only on tiger woods…i used to work at the VA as a summer college job and id steal all their old links magazines, hah. they had a big thing on doral in there.
but it’s flat as shit. when you get guys as dialed in like yesterday, birdies are everywhere. 18′s a tough ass hole tho, f’real.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:43 PM
I was really looking forward to the new-American speakeasies with slurpees, track-pants and network television.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:44 PM
That was a VICE tv thing, right?
March 11th, 2013 at 3:44 PM
oh yea…defectors to SK come back because they simply can’t handle the modernity. NK citizens are a few inches shorter and a good bit lighter than S. Koreans on average after only like 60 years since the korean war. how fucked up is that? and NK’s BEAUTIFUL. some of the most incredible natural shit anywhere. sad.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:44 PM
yea
March 11th, 2013 at 3:46 PM
I saw that as well, Spencer. North Korea absolutely fascinates me. I so badly want to know what it’s really like. I assume we spew a good bit of propaganda ourselves re: what’s it like, but I also assume everything coming from their gov’t is complete bullshit.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Intelligent Design!
March 11th, 2013 at 3:48 PM
dude, ABSOLUTELY. and the two other places id wanna go besikes NK…iran and afghanistan. zero dark thirty’s helicopter ride scene blew me the fuck away.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:48 PM
oh yea…defectors to SK come back because they simply can’t handle the modernity. NK citizens are a few inches shorter and a good bit lighter than S. Koreans on average after only like 60 years since the korean war. how fucked up is that? and NK’s BEAUTIFUL. some of the most incredible natural shit anywhere. sad.
They commit a greater percentage of their GDP to defense than any country on earth. They have more soldiers under arms per capita than any other country. The reason their people are developing so horribly is that their caloric intake is far below the recognized minimum necessary for normal growth. The reason for this is that they don’t invest in agriculture at all. All of the money that doesn’t go to defense goes to half-baked industrial or commercial development (e.g. the Ryugyong Hotel and Nampo Dam), or straight up propaganda to their own people. Plus, keeping two former leaders permanently embalmed and on display can’t be cheap either.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:49 PM
haha…religion aside, id say FOOD! too.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:49 PM
it was. and that was after 12 hours of it on Saturday. I’m walking around like an 85 year old man today. I have a lot of respect for people who do manual labor every day.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:51 PM
I’m sure it’s a little like pre-1990 USSR. Areas where people live absolutely normal healthy lives that NK boasts as their normal lifestyle. Then there are areas of neglect, and bread lines, and disease that the United States boasts as the real image.
It’s a crazy, screwed up regime.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:52 PM
I have a lot of respect for people who do manual labor every day.
This just reminded me that the catering arm of the Tex Mex restaurant I worked for in college was called “Manuel Labors, EPG”.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:52 PM
WTF? That’s the most North Korea thing ever. I had no idea they did this.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:52 PM
im sorry, but i cant help but think of just how ‘russian’ that is. “da, we build dam. impressive, nyet? best dam in the entire world, very expensive. we make the engineering, stop river flow like kotex, no problem.”
/dies in food riot
March 11th, 2013 at 3:54 PM
This is my thinking. Like…there can’t be nothing but bread lines and disease. The people would revolt. There has to be a class that has money and lives a “good” life.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:54 PM
It’s a crazy, screwed up regime.
Equally crazy is the tit for tat moves that North Korea and the UN Command in Korea have engaged in back and forth since the 1950s.
During one of the initial negotiations of the armistice, the UNC side went into the truce tents one night and sawed down the chair legs of the KPA/CPV delegation. The next day, when the KPA/CPV delegates arrived, they were forced to sit lower than their UNC counterparts and lost face, so they quickly left the meeting. At a later meeting, the UNC delegation brought a flag into the truce tent and set it up on the meeting table. Again, the KPA/CPV delegation left after losing face, but showed up at the next meeting with a flag that was larger than the UNC flag. At the following meeting, the UNC delegation brought in a slightly larger flag. This kept up until a special meeting was called just to discuss the size of the flags, as they had grown too large to fit within the tents. The size of the flags within the meeting building have stayed about the same since then, with only minor changes. The KPA flag is wider than the UNC flag, but the UNC flag is longer. The KPA flag has thicker fringe around the edges of the flag, but the UNC’s trim is longer. The truck at the top of the KPA flagpole is taller than the UNC truck, but the UNC’s is wider. The KPA flag has a three tiered base while the UNC flag only has two tiers, but each of the tiers on the UNC base is taller than any of the tiers on the KPA flag.[23][24][25]
March 11th, 2013 at 3:55 PM
cool story on golf in NK.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:55 PM
Dude. The Soviets still have Lenin embalmed and on display. It’s a Commie thing.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:56 PM
WTF? That’s the most North Korea thing ever. I had no idea they did this.
I wouldn’t say it’s THE most North Korea thing ever. As Lenin died in 1924 and yet his embalmed corpse is still on display in Red Square today.
But Kim Il Sung is still President of the Country, even though he’s been dead for 20 years. THAT’s the most North Korean thing ever.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:56 PM
you know what made me chortle? reading comment 94 about flag politics from a guy who lives in a state that would probably fly the texas flag above the US one if they were allowed.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:58 PM
you know what made me chortle? reading comment 94 about flag politics from a guy who lives in a state that would probably fly the texas flag above the US one if they were allowed.
Oh we’ll do it. And we’ll blow your head off and shout “We secede motherfuckers!” in the process.
/spits
March 11th, 2013 at 3:58 PM
Amazing.
March 11th, 2013 at 3:58 PM
it’s not that uncommon…lotta popes.
/spits
//shudders at unintentional pun
March 11th, 2013 at 4:00 PM
I read that in my November/December? issue. Whenever it was it was when the kiddo in the hospital. Probably best piece I’ve seen in the mag ever.
March 11th, 2013 at 4:02 PM
i know, right? i was legitimately flabbergasted when i read it…golf magazine is like the US Weekly of golf publications.
/nods at EIC
//flips to “HOWD YOU GET THAT NUMBER” short game lesson
March 11th, 2013 at 4:02 PM
it’s not that uncommon…lotta popes.
John XXIII says ‘hi’.
March 11th, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Just another bit of interesting gamesmanship in the JSA:
Both sides face each other in spaces between the blue meeting houses, where the demarcation line is marked by blocks of concrete. All South Korean guards in this area are armed with pistols, and stand in a modified Tae Kwon Do stance with solid facial expressions, clenched fists, and sunglasses, which is meant to intimidate the North Koreans. They must be at least 170 cm tall,[21][22] and have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do or Judo to serve there. All North Korean border guards are armed with pistols, and are well-fed officers who stand in rigid military posture. In each space, two North Korean soldiers stand facing each other rather than the South, so that neither one can defect to the South, and another guard stands behind them facing the North to prevent anyone else from defecting. In front of him is a two-man guard post.[22]
I saw on reddit the other day a picture of two South Korean guards inside one of the buildings. Whenever they open the door to the North side of the buildings, the guy holding the door holds the hand of a second guard who holds onto the nearest wall corner. The reason they do this is in case a North Korean guard is on the other side of the door and tries to pull the South Korea guard across the threshold.
March 11th, 2013 at 4:08 PM
You call that a pope? This is a pope!
“his rapes, murders and other unspeakable acts. His life as a pope was so vile, so foul, so execrable, that I shudder to think of it.”
– some Bishop Cunt
March 11th, 2013 at 4:08 PM
You call that a pope? This is a pope!
Unless he’s on public display right now, that’s a nice story, but not germane to the discussion.
March 11th, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Ohhhhhhhh. WhatchugottosayboutthatTBL
March 11th, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Put a pope’s dick in yer mouth like deaf child, punk.
March 11th, 2013 at 4:16 PM
Put a pope’s dick in yer mouth like deaf child, punk.
Go tongue-fuck a hairy French Canadian asshole.
March 11th, 2013 at 4:16 PM
/proposes bill in ohio house of representatives to embalm pope urban meyer when he passes at the old age of 52 from a massive coronary embolism
March 11th, 2013 at 4:23 PM
Made my choice.
March 11th, 2013 at 4:32 PM
is that daughter lee roth, dave’s spawn?
March 11th, 2013 at 4:33 PM
Late, but I work with a guy who fought in Korea. Said they did the sort of stuff in comment 94 all the time. If they built a building, we’d build one the same but slightly bigger and it would just go back and forth.
March 11th, 2013 at 4:39 PM
The North has an entire Potemkin village near the DMZ. Within the village is the world’s tallest flagpole.
I guess you have to take what you can.
March 12th, 2013 at 12:47 AM
Really good (albeit too short) column. Is this your site, Trey?