NCAA Basketball

5 Teams On The Outside Of The NCAA Tournament Bubble

Fresh Videos

By @JamesSzuba

5 Teams On The Outside Of The NCAA Tournament Bubble

5 Teams on the Outside of the NCAA Tournament Bubble
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Selection Sunday is less than two weeks away and teams are playing for their postseason lives. At this point in the season, every game becomes critical. Here are five teams are on the outside of the bubble looking in, but still have a chance to make the NCAA tournament.

5. Pittsburgh (19-11, 8-8)

Pittsburgh
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

5. Pittsburgh (19-11, 8-8)

Pittsburgh
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh hurt its chances of getting a bid with a road loss to Wake Forest on Sunday. The Panthers have a home game on Wednesday against fellow bubble team Miami. A win against Miami is crucial as the selection committee could very well take the winner of this head-to-head matchup and place them in the tournament over the losing team.

4. Stanford (18-10, 9-7)

Stanford
Robert Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

4. Stanford (18-10, 9-7)

Stanford
Robert Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

In January, Stanford looked poised for another NCAA tournament bid and maybe another run at the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. However, the Cardinal have lost five of their last eight games with all three victories coming at home. Combine that with losses to fellow Pac-12 bubble team Oregon and two to UCLA, and that doesn’t bode well for Johnny Dawkins’ club.

3. UCLA (18-12, 10-7)

UCLA
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

3. UCLA (18-12, 10-7)

UCLA
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA currently sits fourth in the Pac-12. The Bruins don’t have any horrible losses on the season, but only has one win over a ranked opponent -- the Utah Utes. In spite of the quality win, only three teams will get in from the Pac-12 and Oregon has surged at the right time. UCLA’s bubble is close to being burst.

2. Texas (17-12, 6-10)

Texas
Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

2. Texas (17-12, 6-10)

Texas
Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

The Longhorns boast one of the most challenging schedules in the country. The problem is that Texas is 1-9 against the RPI top 50 and 6-10 in conference play. Texas looked as though it were ready to take down Kansas in Lawrence on Saturday, but failed to make plays late. Texas still has opportunities against Baylor and Kansas State, but the Longhorns will have to make some noise in the Big 12 tournament to receive an at-large bid.

1. BYU (23-8, 13-5)

BYU
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

1. BYU (23-8, 13-5)

BYU
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

BYU pulled of its biggest win of the season on the road against Gonzaga this weekend, but is it enough for an at-large bid? The Cougars have a strength of schedule of 93, and the selection committee might have a hard time taking two teams from the relatively weak WCC. As of today, BYU is currently on the outside, but they should be in regardless of the outcome if the Cougars make a WCC championship appearance.

James Szuba is a college basketball writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesSzuba.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on