Busting Brackets
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Bracketology: Bubble Watch (Building a resume and the bubble as it is)

By Lukas Harkins

Nov 28, 2016; Evansville, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh (30) celebrates after hitting a three point shot during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Wildcats won 65-58. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2016; Evansville, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh (30) celebrates after hitting a three point shot during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Wildcats won 65-58. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 21, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) dribbles against Louisville Cardinals guard David Levitch (23) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Kentucky 73-70. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) dribbles against Louisville Cardinals guard David Levitch (23) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Kentucky 73-70. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

SEC

Lead-Pipe Lock: N/A

Some Perspiration: Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida

Better Double-Up on the Deodorant: Arkansas, Auburn

Arkansas Razorbacks, 11-1: Minnesota is off to a hot start this season, which at the moment makes Arkansas’ loss at Minnesota just a missed opportunity. With no bad losses and a victory over UT-Arlington, also an underrated team, the Razorbacks actually have a pretty good resume as an 11-1 team.

Quality wins: vs. UT-Arlington

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: @ Minnesota

Up next: vs. Florida (12/29), @ Tennessee (1/3)

Auburn Tigers, 10-2: A non-conference record of 10-2 is good. A win against Texas Tech is good. Getting blown out by Purdue and losing to Boston College is not good. On the whole, Auburn has had a pretty good season, but in a pretty average SEC, they’re going to need one major win (Kentucky, maybe) to really solidify themselves as a tournament team.

Quality wins: vs. Texas Tech

Bad losses: vs. Boston College

Missed opportunities: vs. Purdue

Up next: vs. Georgia (12/29), @ Vanderbilt (1/4)

Kentucky Wildcats, 10-2: Two losses might seem unlike Kentucky, but they’re still Kentucky and they’ll still finish as a 1-3 seed. First round picks are scattered throughout their roster and Malik Monk showed in his breakout game against North Carolina that he can erupt at any moment. Nothing to worry about in Lexington.

Quality wins: vs. North Carolina, vs. Valparaiso, vs. Michigan State

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: @ Louisville, vs. UCLA

Up next: @ Ole Miss (12/29), vs. Texas A&M (1/3)

South Carolina Gamecocks, 9-2: South Carolina has had an awesome start to the season, but has also suffered two defeats, albeit at the hand of two other tournament teams. Without any outstanding wins and a relatively weak conference from top to bottom, South Carolina cannot afford any bad losses and needs a little help.

Quality wins: vs. Michigan

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: vs. Seton Hall, vs. Clemson

Up next: @ Memphis (12/30), @ Georgia (1/4)

Florida Gators, 9-3: Florida has played one of, if not the best, best non-conference schedules in the country. And with that, the Gators were able to finish 9-3, with no bad losses. This is an impressive feat and definitely gives them an advantage over teams with similar records. This strength of schedule is a vital part of a resume and Florida has that bit of their resume covered with ease.

Quality wins: vs. Seton Hall, vs. Miami

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: vs. Gonzaga, vs. Duke, @ Florida State

Up next: @ Arkansas (12/29), vs. Ole Miss (1/3)

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