THIS IS MARCH. Greatest month of the year. As I’m writing this intro, Baylor and Texas Tech are in overtime. Everything about this month just hits differently. If you wanted to call Monday a lull, it’ll be the last lull until Selection Sunday. There are a lot of great games today and Wednesday, which will warrant another bracket on Thursday. Thursday and Friday has four combined semifinal conference tournament games. Saturday and Sunday will then conclude the rest of college basketball’s regular season, making way for Championship Week round 2.
We saw more top-25 teams lose on Saturday. Providence took down Villanova to really secure a bid as they go over 4 in my adjusted winning percentage. Texas won at Texas Tech to move the Longhorns firmly back onto the bubble. Kansas avoided a scare, but Baylor did not. Clemson picked up a win over Florida State. The Tigers have wins over Florida State, Duke, Louisville, UNC and NC State, yet they’re nowhere near the bubble. Oklahoma picked up a road win to a struggling West Virginia team. Easiest Quadrant-1 win at this time of year. Virginia beat Duke to wrap up a bid. Michigan State beat Maryland at home to close the door on the Terrapins from moving to the 1 line.
USC went from being consistent on my last 4 in to almost securing a bid with a win over Arizona State. Stanford beat Colorado on Sunday to move up. Cincinnati lost to Houston yet their wins are still good enough compared to the teams around them. Utah State lost to New Mexico, but their wins over LSU and Florida are keeping me from removing them. Welcome back, Rutgers. Everyone else on the bubble sucks. Wichita State stays until their next loss. And Rhode Island blew a chance for the Atlantic 10 to have two bids in. For now. Until Saint Louis decides to beat Dayton in the A-10 Tournament because that would be a very Saint Louis thing to do.
Mississippi State, Arkansas and South Carolina are still finding ways to stay on the bubble. Alabama left because of their adjusted winning percentage, but the Tide aren’t gone. Memphis can really gain some ground with a win over Wichita State this week. UCLA is not my auto bid because of NET position and equal losses to Oregon. And Richmond is still there because they beat Wisconsin.
Whew. What a time to be alive. Make sure you check out the ever changing Bracket Matrix which is where we are along with over 100 others.
Midwest
1 Kansas
16 Robert Morris/NC Central
8 Illinois
9 Florida
5 BYU
12 Wichita State/NC State
4 Kentucky
13 North Texas
6 Wisconsin
11 Cincinnati
3 Creighton
14 Hofstra
7 Marquette
10 Indiana
2 Florida State
15 North Dakota State
South
1 Baylor
16 Siena/Prairie View A&M
8 Saint Mary’s
9 Providence
5 Auburn
12 Vermont
4 Penn State
13 Akron
6 Butler
11 Utah State/Rutgers
3 Duke
14 Colgate
7 LSU
10 Arizona State
2 Seton Hall
15 UC Irvine
West
1 Gonzaga
16 Radford
8 Houston
9 Oklahoma
5 Iowa
12 Yale
4 Oregon
13 Stephen F. Austin
6 Arizona
11 East Tennessee State
3 Louisville
14 Belmont
7 West Virginia
10 USC
2 Maryland
15 Wright State
East
1 San Diego State
16 Montana
8 Virginia
9 Xavier
5 Colorado
12 Northern Iowa
4 Michigan State
13 Liberty
6 Ohio State
11 Texas Tech
3 Villanova
14 New Mexico State
7 Michigan
10 Stanford
2 Dayton
15 Little Rock
Last four byes
USC
Stanford
Texas Tech
Cincinnati
Last four in
Utah State
Rutgers
Wichita State
NC State
First four out
Rhode Island
Texas
Mississippi State
Arkansas
Next four out
UCLA
Memphis
Richmond
South Carolina