Basketball Scores of interest Final 2 weeks

[CoachRob]

To peak interest in the final 2 weeks of college basketball, I have compiled a list of "teams to watch" in the hopes of the possibility of the SunBelt getting 2 bids into the NCAA Tourney. To state the obvious, these two teams are App & JMU and will need to meet in Conference Tourney for best possible scenario. This list is made up of teams from bracketology, Bubble Watch, and receiving votes close to App. Please add teams to watch if I have missed any that need to be added.

*Please note, this is NOT a debate of can the SB get two teams in, nor is this a thread to express 1s opinions if you think SB cant get 2 teams. If that's all you have to contribute, please go elsewhere.

American:
#24 South Florida- Predicted 11 seed, vs Tulane W 85-72, @ Tulsa 3/9
FAU- Predicted 10 seed, last 4 bye, (receiving votes '4'), @ NT W 80-76, vs Memphis 3/9
*Best case scenario is 1 of these teams win their conference tourney while the other falters down the stretch.

ACC:
Virginia- Predicted 10 seed, last 4 bye, vs GT 3/9
WF- Predicted 10 seed, last 4 bye, vs GT L 70-69, vs Clemson 3/9
Pitt- Bubble Watch, vs FSU W 88-73, vs NCST 3/9
Syracuse- Bubble Watch, @ Clemson L 90-75
*Best case scenario is UNC, Duke, or Clemson wins the Conference tourney & GT has a heck of a final week of regular season.

Big XII:
Kansas St- Next 4 out, @ Kansas L 90-68, vs ISU 3/9
Cincy- Bubble Team, @ Okl L 74-71 OT, vs WV 3/9
* Best case scenario is both these teams take Ls early in the conference tourney.

Big East:
Villanova- Last 4 out, (receiving votes '2'), @ SH L 56-66, vs Creighton 3/9
Seton Hall- Predicted 11 seed, Last 4 in, vs Nova W 66-56, vs Depaul 3/9
Providence- Predicted 11 seed, Last 4 in, @ Gtown W 71-58, vs UConn 3/9
St. Johns- Last 4 out, @ Depaul W 104-77, vs Gtown 3/9
* Best case scenario is UConn, Marquette, or Creighton win conference tourney.

Big 10:
Iowa- Next 4 out, vs Ill 3/10
Nebraska- Projected 10 seed, @ Michigan 3/10
*Best case scenario is Iowa takes 2 straight loses and nothing below the top 4 take the conference title.

MW:
Nevada- Predicted 10 seed, Next 4 in, (receiving votes '42') @ BSU W 76-56, vs UNLV 3/9
New Mexico- Predicted 11 seed, Last 4 in, (receiving votes '5'), vs Fresno W 79-58, @ USU 3/9
*Best case scenario is San Diego State or Utah State win the Conference Tourney.

Pac 12:
Colorado- Last 4 out, @ Oregon W 79-75, @ OSU 3/9
Utah- last 4 out, @ OSU L 92-85, @ Oregon 3/9
*Best case scenario is Zona or WSU win the Conference Tourney and the Oregon's get hot this week.

SEC:
Texas A&M- Next 4 out, vs MSU W 75-69, @ Ole Miss 3/9
Ole Miss- Next 4 out, @ UGA L 66-69, vs TA&M 3/9
* Best case scenario is these two take early exits next week.

Need to win Conference Tourney:
Princeton- Ivey League (Receiving votes '3')
Indiana State- Missouri League (Receiving votes '9') (Drake needs to lose early as well to help)
McNeese State- Southland (Receiving votes '2')

edited to add Pitt, Syracuse, & Nebraska

[EastHallApp]

Good compilation. I don't think it's likely that Princeton or McNeese St. gets an at-large bid, but you never know. I'd also say root for Michigan State (to boost JMU's profile) and the better OOC teams we played/beat (primarily Auburn, of course, but also UNCW, Toledo, etc.).

In terms of the AAC, I'd say root for FAU, as I think they are better positioned than USF, regardless of polls. In fact I could argue App's resume is as good as USF's right now.

If we're compiling a list of other bubble teams to root against, I would add Pitt, Syracuse, Ohio State, maybe Nebraska.

[BallantyneApp]

Good compilation. I don't think it's likely that Princeton or McNeese St. gets an at-large bid, but you never know. I'd also say root for Michigan State (to boost JMU's profile) and the better OOC teams we played/beat (primarily Auburn, of course, but also UNCW, Toledo, etc.).

In terms of the AAC, I'd say root for FAU, as I think they are better positioned than USF, regardless of polls. In fact I could argue App's resume is as good as USF's right now.

If we're compiling a list of other bubble teams to root against, I would add Pitt, Syracuse, Ohio State, maybe Nebraska.

USF currently has a net of 79 if they win out and lose to fau in the finals I don’t think they’d climb past Jmu losing in the finals

[EastHallApp]

Good compilation. I don't think it's likely that Princeton or McNeese St. gets an at-large bid, but you never know. I'd also say root for Michigan State (to boost JMU's profile) and the better OOC teams we played/beat (primarily Auburn, of course, but also UNCW, Toledo, etc.).

In terms of the AAC, I'd say root for FAU, as I think they are better positioned than USF, regardless of polls. In fact I could argue App's resume is as good as USF's right now.

If we're compiling a list of other bubble teams to root against, I would add Pitt, Syracuse, Ohio State, maybe Nebraska.

USF currently has a net of 79 if they win out and lose to fau in the finals I don’t think they’d climb past Jmu losing in the finals

Yeah, and as we've been told a million times, a team's own NET doesn't really matter much. But even so, I think 79 is right around the lowest rank to ever make the field, maybe slightly lower. And USF has only played one Q1 game all year (a 1 point win over #71 Memphis), and they have two Q4 losses. So really nothing there to counterweight their own low NET.

Honestly no idea why they're ranked, other than maybe voters forgetting that the AAC isn't that good anymore.

[Bigdaddyg1]

They beat FAU who is currently 35th in the NET. When they beat Memphis the Tigers were 10th ranked but that's no longer an impressive win. They only play them and FAU once. Agree, other than a 14 game win streak (which ain't bad) how are they a top 25 and considered a possible at large?

[CoachRob]

Updates from Tuesday's games:

Good Results-
Clemson 90 Syracuse 75
GT 70 WF 69
Kansas 90 KSU 68
OKU 74 Cincy 71
Georgia 69 Ole Miss 66

Bad Results-
South Florida 85 Tulane 72
Pitt 88 FSU 73
Providence 71 GTown 58
St. Johns 104 Depaul 77
Nevada 76 BSU 66

[EastHallApp]

Congrats to Wake for locking up an NIT bid last night!

[hapapp]

Congrats to Wake for locking up an NIT bid last night!

I think they thought they were a lock after beating Duke and then proceed to lay a couple of eggs.

[EastHallApp]

Congrats to Wake for locking up an NIT bid last night!

I think they thought they were a lock after beating Duke and then proceed to lay a couple of eggs.

The thing is, the first two were on the road, where they've been consistently bad all year. After losing two in a row, no way to use complacency as an excuse last night. Everyone knew they couldn't afford to drop that one.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Congrats to Wake for locking up an NIT bid last night!

I think they thought they were a lock after beating Duke and then proceed to lay a couple of eggs.

The thing is, the first two were on the road, where they've been consistently bad all year. After losing two in a row, no way to use complacency as an excuse last night. Everyone knew they couldn't afford to drop that one.

At least they are NIT bound. NC State, after starting the ACC 5-1 or something, have played themselves out of the NIT.

[Bootsy]

Congrats to Wake for locking up an NIT bid last night!

I think they thought they were a lock after beating Duke and then proceed to lay a couple of eggs.

The thing is, the first two were on the road, where they've been consistently bad all year. After losing two in a row, no way to use complacency as an excuse last night. Everyone knew they couldn't afford to drop that one.

At least they are NIT bound. NC State, after starting the ACC 5-1 or something, have played themselves out of the NIT.

I suppose that's pretty much the norm for NC State these days, isn't it?

[Bigdaddyg1]

Congrats to Wake for locking up an NIT bid last night!

I think they thought they were a lock after beating Duke and then proceed to lay a couple of eggs.

The thing is, the first two were on the road, where they've been consistently bad all year. After losing two in a row, no way to use complacency as an excuse last night. Everyone knew they couldn't afford to drop that one.

At least they are NIT bound. NC State, after starting the ACC 5-1 or something, have played themselves out of the NIT.

I suppose that's pretty much the norm for NC State these days, isn't it?

I've admittedly only watched a little bit of hoops other than our games and saw a good bit of the State/UNC game. Keatts just stood there for stretches and did nothing but let his team melt down.

[CoachRob]

I think they thought they were a lock after beating Duke and then proceed to lay a couple of eggs.

The thing is, the first two were on the road, where they've been consistently bad all year. After losing two in a row, no way to use complacency as an excuse last night. Everyone knew they couldn't afford to drop that one.

At least they are NIT bound. NC State, after starting the ACC 5-1 or something, have played themselves out of the NIT.

I suppose that's pretty much the norm for NC State these days, isn't it?

I've admittedly only watched a little bit of hoops other than our games and saw a good bit of the State/UNC game. Keatts just stood there for stretches and did nothing but let his team melt down.

In my conversations with State fans, they are done with Keatts and ready to move on. Wouldn't be surprised if this is his last year.
Very interesting dynamic with State fans, the younger generations are football 1st fans and see that as the highest priority, where as older generations are still basketball 1st and believe the program (which does have 2 Men's basketball NCs) should be consistently competing for ACC championships every year. Very interesting debate they have, especially since all other DI schools from North Carolina have a well defined sports culture. (ie: App/ECU-football, UNC/Duke-basketball).

[CoachRob]

Updates from Wednesday's games:

Good Results-
Seton Hall 66 Nova 56

Bad Results-
FAU 80 NT 76
New Mexico 79 Fresno 58
Texas A&M 75 MS 69

[EastHallApp]

Updates from Wednesday's games:

Good Results-
Seton Hall 66 Nova 56

Bad Results-
FAU 80 NT 76
New Mexico 79 Fresno 58
Texas A&M 75 MS 69

Some nuance there, though. All four of Seton Hall, Nova, A&M and Miss. State are probably still trying to play their way in.

[appst89]

Seton Hall and Nova are both in already.

I'm fairly certain FAU is already in.

The Mountain West is going to get 6 again this year.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Austin Peay going to ASUN championship game.

[Stonewall]

Let’s go P !

[EastHallApp]

Seton Hall and Nova are both in already.

Prior to that game, Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm both had Seton Hall in the play-in round. Even after that win, they are 63 in the NET.

Also prior to the game, Lunardi had Nova as one of his last four byes, while Palm had them out entirely.

Now, I would argue your guess is as good as theirs. But I don't see how anyone can say definitively that both are in.

[agentpaul001]

Oregon St beating Utah last night was certainly helpful for JMU's edge case. They could very well pass Utah in the Net Rankings with today's update. They could still pretty conceivably move up to a Quad 2 loss if they can grab another win or two.