NCAA Basketball March Madness

15 Biggest Teams On Bubble Watch for 2015 NCAA Tournament

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2015 March Madness: 15 Teams On Bubble Watch

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
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With Selection Sunday happening on March 15 and the Round of 64 (the real first round) set to begin on March 19, March Madness is right around the corner. As always, certain teams, for the most part, have already all but secured a spot in the 2015 NCAA tournament. But some teams still have some work to do if they want to participate in the Big Dance. Who are the 15 biggest teams on bubble watch?

15. Butler Bulldogs – Big East

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

15. Butler Bulldogs – Big East

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Butler is 19-7 overall and 9-4 in the Big East. The Bulldogs lost to Villanova at home on Feb. 14—if they had won, they would probably be a lock. But if the tournament started today, it’s hard to believe they’d fail to make it into all of the fun—Lunardi has them as the No. 5 seed in the West. Butler still has five games left and not all of them are automatic wins. More than likely, it will take care of business.

14. Xavier Musketeers – Big East

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

14. Xavier Musketeers – Big East

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

They are 17-10 overall and 7-7 in the Big East. They have some quality wins, including victories over Georgetown and PC, but they also have some inexplicable losses to teams like Long Beach State, Creighton and DePaul. They would make the tournament if it started today, but they have four games left and it’s tough sledding. Winning three out of four and defeating Butler or Villanova would really help their chances.

13. VCU Rams – Atlantic 10

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Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

13. VCU Rams – Atlantic 10

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams are 20-6 overall and 10-3 in the Atlantic 10. If the tournament began today, VCU would be partaking—Lunardi has it as the No. 6 seed in the East. After a two-game skid, it righted the ship and won its next two games. With five games left, it’s too early to say it is a lock, so it is still on the bubble. But the bubble may be ready to float the Rams into March Madness, especially if they take care of business down the stretch.

12. Oklahoma State Cowboys – Big 12

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

12. Oklahoma State Cowboys – Big 12

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

They are 17-9 overall and 7-7 in the Big 12. The Cowboys may be on the bubble, but if the tournament kicked off today, they would be dancing—Lunardi has them as the No. 7 seed in the West in his latest bracketology. They have a favorable RPI and record against the top 50, which will help when the selection committee meets. They are on a two-game losing streak, so their last four (against West Va. and TCU twice each) games are important.

11. Stanford Cardinal – Pac-12

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

11. Stanford Cardinal – Pac-12

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Stanford is 16-9 overall (7-6 in Pac-12, RPI: 40 and SOS: 17). Stanford has lost four of its last five games. The close loss to UCLA and the loss at Utah are not overly concerning, but then the Cardinal inexplicably lost to Colorado. Stanford does not have a true quality win—that win at Texas in December looks far less impressive now. Not that long ago, it seemed Stanford was a safe bet to make the tourney, but now it has some work to do.

10. Oregon Ducks – Pac-12

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
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10. Oregon Ducks – Pac-12

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

The Ducks are 19-8 overall and 9-5 in Pac-12. They missed an opportunity on Feb. 14 to get a win over UCLA on the road, but they are still smack dab in the middle of the bubble. Joe Lunardi has them as one of the “first four out” teams and that sounds about right. Their remaining games are vs. No. 9 Utah and three road games (California, Stanford, Oregon State). Those games give the Ducks a chance to help play themselves right into the tourney.

9. UCLA Bruins – Pac-12

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

9. UCLA Bruins – Pac-12

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

They are 16-11 overall (8-6 in the Pac-12) and 5 – 2 in their last seven games, including wins over Utah and Oregon. But UCLA is only 1-5 against the top 50. It finishes the season with three very winnable games (Washington, Washington State and USC), but it first plays No. 7 Arizona on Feb. 21. A win at Arizona would certainly help, but a close loss and closing out the season with three wins should be enough to get UCLA into the dance.

8. NC State Wolfpack – ACC

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Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

8. NC State Wolfpack – ACC

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

NC State is 15-11 overall (6-7 in the ACC) and it is 2-5 in its last seven games. But it won at Louisville during that stretch. Even if the Cardinals aren’t as strong as college basketball fans are used to, that’s still a quality win and the win against Duke certainly carries some weight. NC State still has some work to do the rest of the way, including in the ACC tournament, but it can still make the tournament.

7. Miami Hurricanes – ACC

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7. Miami Hurricanes – ACC

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Miami is 17-9 overall (7-6 in the ACC) and Joe Lunardi currently has it as one of the “next four out” teams. The Hurricanes are one of multiple ACC teams that are on the March Madness bubble. They still have games against Louisville and UNC remaining on their schedule. Wins against those opponents could certainly help Miami be one of the five to seven ACC teams that participate in March Madness.

6. Pittsburgh Panthers – ACC

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6. Pittsburgh Panthers – ACC

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers are 17-10 overall (6-7 in the ACC) this season. They have quality wins against Notre Dame and UNC, but they have only four top-100 wins. Pitt has only two chances (Syracuse and Miami) in its final five games to help brighten up its resume. In the really tough ACC, the Panthers may need to win their final five games, or win four out of five (with a close loss at Syracuse) and win at least one or two games in the ACC tournament.

5. LSU Tigers – SEC

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

5. LSU Tigers – SEC

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

LSU is 18-8 overall (7-6 in the SEC). Back on Feb. 10, the Tigers had the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats on the ropes, but they failed to give UK its first loss of the season. That was a unique opportunity and it would have been a huge book to LSU’s resume, but it was not to be. They then waxed Tennessee, but a loss to another bubble team (Texas A&M) was no bueno. The Tigers need to finish the season strong to make sure they make the field.

4. Texas A&M Aggies – SEC

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Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

4. Texas A&M Aggies – SEC

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Aggies are 18-7 overall (9-4 in the SEC) and they are another SEC team on the bubble. But if Selection Sunday happened today, the Aggies would probably get into the field. They have won eight of their last 10 games, but they can’t just rest now. A road game against Arkansas is still on their schedule, and that would be a quality win. The Aggies still have plenty to play for down the stretch.

3. Illinois Fighting Illini – Big 10

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

3. Illinois Fighting Illini – Big 10

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois is 17-9 overall and 7-6 in the Big 10. The Fighting Illini got themselves into bubble territory and March Madness consideration by winning four straight games, before losing on the road to a really good Wisconsin team. If they can take down Michigan State at home on Feb. 22, that will really help their chances, and their final four games are very winnable.

2. Michigan State Spartans – Big 10

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

2. Michigan State Spartans – Big 10

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

They are 18-8 overall and 9-4 in the Big 10. They would probably make the field if the tournament started today—Lunardi has them as the No. 8 seed in the Midwest region. The win on Feb. 14 over the Buckeyes was huge because the Spartans are on the bubble and they still have some tough games ahead on their schedule, including at Wisconsin. Chances are the Spartans find a way to officially get off the bubble and make the tournament.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes – Big 10

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

1. Ohio State Buckeyes – Big 10

2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

They are 19-7 overall and 8-5 in the Big 10. Their resume isn’t great, so they aren’t a lock, but it’s probably good enough to get in the tournament if it started today—Lunardi has them as the No. 7 seed in the South region in his latest bracketology. OSU closes its season with a game against Wisconsin. That will be a tough game, but it can get in the tourney with a loss to the Badgers—it has four winnable games before that season finale.

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