The weakest bubble in recent memory showed its true colors once again last night. A whopping 10 teams playing for their tournament lives (Arizona, Arizona State, UMass, Oregon, Villanova, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, and UAB) all lost games, and many did so in pitiful fashion. UMass blew a 17-point second half lead to Charlotte, Maryland blew an early 20-5 lead against Boston College, Florida trailed by 23 at the half before losing by 11 to Alabama, and even Baylor, who wasn't in the bubble discussion heading into the Big XII tourney, now is after losing to (ugh) Colorado in double OT in their opening round game.
The night's ridiculous results were good news for a couple of bubble teams, specifically Ohio State (who jumps back into the field on the eve of their huge Big Ten tourney showdown with Michigan State) and VCU, whose early exit in the Colonial doesn't look as bad now that a ton of other bubble teams did the same. The upsets should also help mid-major bubble boys like lllinois Sate, South Alabama, and Saint Mary's feel a lot safer about their chances as they count down the hours until Selection Sunday.
Out This Bracket
Oregon, Massachusetts
In This Bracket
Ohio State, Temple
Last Four In
Ohio State, Temple, Arizona State, Villanova
Last Four Out
Syracuse, Oregon, VCU, St. Joseph's
Next Four Out
Virginia Tech, Charlotte, New Mexico, Mississippi
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Conference Breakdown
Big East (8), Big XII (6), Pac-10 (6), Big Ten (5), SEC (5), ACC (4), WCC (3), A-10 (2), Colonial (2), MVC (2), MWC (2), Sun Belt (2)
America East - UMBC
ACC - North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, Miami-FL
Atlantic Sun - Belmont
A-10 - Xavier, Temple
Big East - Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Marquette, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Villanova
Big Sky - Portland State
Big South - Winthrop
Big Ten - Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State
Big 12 - Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Baylor
Big West - UC-Santa Barbara
Colonial - George Mason
C-USA - Memphis
Horizon - Butler
Ivy - Cornell
MAAC - Siena
MAC - Kent State
MEAC - Morgan State
MVC - Drake, Illinois State
MWC - UNLV, BYU
Northeast - Mount St. Mary’s
Ohio Valley - Austin Peay
Pac-10 - UCLA, Stanford, Washington State, USC, Arizona, Arizona State
Patriot - American
SEC - Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Arkansas
Southern - Davidson
Southland - Stephen F. Austin
Summit - Oral Roberts
Sun Belt - Western Kentucky, South Alabama
SWAC - Alabama State
WAC - New Mexico State
WCC - San Diego, Gonzaga, St. Mary’s
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The Seeds
The 1s
North Carolina, Memphis, Tennessee, UCLA
The 2s
Kansas, Texas, Georgetown, Duke
The 3s
Wisconsin, Xavier, Stanford, Louisville
The 4s
Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana, Drake
The 5s
Michigan State, Connecticut, Vanderbilt, Marquette
The 6s
Washington State, USC, Pittsburgh, Butler
The 7s
BYU, Gonzaga, Clemson, West Virginia
The 8s
Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Miami-FL
The 9s
Texas A&M, Kentucky, Kent State, St. Mary's
The 10s
UNLV, Illinois State, Baylor, Davidson
The 11s
Arizona, Arkansas, South Alabama, Ohio State
The 12s
Temple, Arizona State, Villanova, San Diego
The 13s
George Mason, Western Kentucky, Oral Roberts, Stephen F. Austin
The 14s
Cornell, New Mexico State, UC-Santa Barbara, Siena
The 15s
Winthrop, Portland State, Belmont, Austin Peay
The 16s
UMBC, American, Morgan State, Mount St. Mary’s (Play-In Game), Alabama State (Play-In Game)
The Bracket
(Bracket courtesy Matt Reeves)
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