The NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch has fans on edge as Selection Sunday looms closer. Teams are jockeying for position, hoping to secure a coveted spot in the Big Dance. Every win and loss could be the difference between a ticket to March Madness or an early offseason. Let’s take a closer look at the status of 12 teams on the tournament bubble, as of Saturday evening.
San Diego State: The Aztecs are sweating it out after a tough loss to Boise State in the Mountain West Tournament. With a 21-9 record, San Diego State is clinging to hope that their regular-season wins will be enough to sway the selection committee in their favor.
Indiana: The Hoosiers fell to No. 23 Oregon in their conference tournament, leaving their fate uncertain. Indiana will have to rely on other bubble teams’ performances to see if they make the cut for March Madness.
Xavier
Xavier: Despite a loss to Marquette in the Big East Tournament, the Musketeers are still in the conversation for an at-large bid. Their recent winning streak could give them the edge they need to secure a spot in the tournament.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels had a chance to bolster their resume with a win over Duke, but fell short in a close matchup. Now, North Carolina will have to hope that their earlier victories are enough to earn them a bid to the Big Dance.
Texas: The Longhorns had a strong showing in the SEC Tournament, but a loss to Tennessee put their tournament hopes in jeopardy. Texas will have to rely on their performance in the conference tournament to sway the committee.
Ohio State: With a recent loss to Iowa, the Buckeyes are on the bubble with an uncertain future. Their win over Texas earlier in the season may not be enough to secure a spot in the tournament.
UC Irvine: Despite a strong season, UC Irvine’s loss to UC San Diego in the Big West Championship Game dashed their hopes of an automatic bid. The Anteaters will have to wait and see if they did enough to earn an at-large selection.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers suffered a setback in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, putting their tournament hopes in jeopardy. With several quality wins under their belt, West Virginia will need to hope for a favorable decision from the selection committee.
Wake Forest: A loss to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament was a tough blow for the Demon Deacons. Despite a strong start to the season, Wake Forest’s recent struggles have put their tournament chances in doubt.
Colorado State: The Rams secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament with a dominant win over Boise State in the Mountain West Championship Game. Riding a 10-game winning streak, Colorado State is poised to make some noise in the tournament.
George Mason: The Patriots are on the bubble, with their fate hanging in the balance in the A-10 Tournament. A win over VCU could punch their ticket to the Big Dance, but any misstep could spell disaster for George Mason.
San Francisco: The Dons fell to Gonzaga in the WCC semifinals, leaving their tournament hopes uncertain. Despite some quality wins, San Francisco will have to wait and see if they did enough to earn a bid.
As the NCAA Tournament selection process unfolds, these 12 teams will be watching anxiously to see if their bubble hasn’t burst. The coming days will be filled with anticipation and nerves as the fate of these programs hangs in the balance. Stay tuned for more updates on who makes the cut for March Madness.
