Those teams that aspire to enter the NCAA Tournament, considered to be on the bubble and competing today, have been delighted by that situation.
Because not playing means that your case cannot be improved. And most likely not playing means you lost an early conference tournament and your case is almost certainly not good. Like Xavier. Or Stanford.
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If your team is playing, then there is a chance.
Today’s Bubble Game:
Michigan state Vs Maryland, Big Ten Tournament, 11:30 am, BTN. Michigan State (15-11, No. 67 net) can still be considered over the bubble, but with three wins over the top-10 teams in net, they are not falling out. What’s at stake for them vs. the Terps is simply whether they may need to play an extra game in the NCAA tournament, with the first four assigned instead of directly in the 64-team bracket. The game is very consequential for Maryland (14–12, No. 34). Bill Bender of Sporting News holds Retide as the No. 11 seed, as is the consensus view in the bracket matrix. It is possible for them to lose and exit the field – especially if they lose decisively.
Syracuse Vs. Virginia, ACC tournament, noon, ESPN2. The stakes for Orange (16-8, No. 39) appear fairly clear. Victory, and they are in the fray for now. They will then have the ability to consolidate their position with the ACC semi. To lose, and to include is not yet their case. They will be 1-7 against Quad 1. They will be 3-8 away from Career Dome. Their only Quad 1 victory would be a road victory over NC State, whose combination with this tournament would be limited to flashbacks of Lorenzo Charles’ sting to defeat Houston in the 1983 game. It is not enough.
Seton Hall Vs St. John’s, Big East Tournament, 3pm, FS1. The game offers such great opportunities to both sides. The Pirates (13-12, No. 58) played off the projected field with a loss in their last four regular seasons, but still have little chance. The Red Storm (16-10, No. 66) spoiled its own February with DePaul finishing in last place. Whoever emerges from the game gets an opportunity to play a damaged Villanova team – two huge injuries at the guard position – that provide another quality win opportunity. Here the loser is out, for good.
Utah State Vs. UNLV, Mountain West Tournament, 9 pm, CBS Sports Network. A strange development along the bubble line over the past week has been the tendency of the Mountain West to lose against teams that are not among the best in their league. This has rarely happened before March. Maybe it is a matter of pressure. This will definitely be something the Aggies (17-7, No. 49) will face in this one.
Ole miss Vs. South Carolina, SEC Tournament, 9:30 pm, SEC Network. Ole Miss (15–10, No. 53) has managed to stay alive, although this will not strengthen its case of climbing into the area.
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