Bracketology: Updated Bubble Watch and the Mailbag

Big East

Lead-Pipe Lock: Villanova, Butler, Creighton

Some Perspiration: Xavier

Better Double-Up on the Deodorant: Marquette, Seton Hall, Georgetown, Providence

Xavier Musketeers, 18-7 (8-4): Despite a very solid season, Xavier still remains on the bubble, although they are quite close to joining the group of Big East locks. They had a major opportunity to join that company against Villanova, but were unable to grab the W. Four of the last six games for X are on the road, which makes things very difficult, especially when every game is against a potential tournament squad except the closing game against DePaul.

Quality wins: @ Creighton, vs. Wake Forest, vs. Seton Hall, vs. Clemson, @ Georgetown, vs. Georgetown, vs. Providence, vs. Utah

Bad losses: @ Colorado

Missed opportunities: @ Baylor, @ Villanova, vs. Villanova, @ Butler, vs. Creighton, @ Cincinnati

Up next: @ Providence (2/15), @ Marquette (2/18)

Marquette Golden Eagles, 15-9 (6-6): Oh Marquette, what are we to do with you? Just after climbing into the tournament field and even getting up to a single digit seed, you go and lose four of five games. And in that stretch, the only win came against DePaul, which does not help the resume all that much. MU was the last team in my bracket on Monday, and they are falling fast. The Golden Eagles have golden opportunities wth Xavier (twice), Creighton, and Providence still left on the schedule.

Quality wins: vs. Villanova, @ Creighton, vs. Seton Hall, vs. Georgetown, @ Georgia

Bad losses: @ St. John’s, vs. Pittsburgh

Missed opportunities: vs. Michigan, @ Georgetown, vs. Providence, @ Villanova, @ Butler, vs. Butler, vs. Wisconsin, @ Seton Hall

Up next: vs. Xavier (2/18), vs. St. John’s (2/21)

Seton Hall Pirates, 15-9 (5-7): After two very solid wins over Providence and Georgetown, Seton Hall took a crushing loss to St. John’s, which definitely hurt their resume. Yet, they still remained in my tournament field as the third last team in. With Creighton and Villanova coming in their next two games (and a season closer with Butler), the Pirates have the opportunities left, but the question remains: Can they get it done?

Quality wins: vs. South Carolina, vs. California, vs. Marquette, @ Georgetown, vs. Providence

Bad losses: vs. Stanford, @ St. John’s

Missed opportunities: @ Villanova, vs. Florida, vs. Butler, @ Xavier, @ Creighton, @ Providence, @ Marquette

Up next: vs. Creighton (2/15), vs. Villanova (2/18)

Georgetown Hoyas, 13-12 (4-8): Wow, it is really hard to put a 13-12 team on the bubble, but yet, here are the Hoyas, knocking on the door as a bubble team. They have proven they can beat top teams with those first three in the quality wins section, but they also have a lottttt of losses. In order to get in, however, the Hoyas might need to beat both Creighton and Villanova down the stretch or have a deep run in the conference tournament.

Quality wins: @ Butler, vs. Oregon, vs. Creighton, @ Syracuse, vs. Marquette

Bad losses: vs. Arkansas State

Missed opportunities: @ Marquette, vs. Providence, @ Providence, vs. Seton Hall, vs. Oklahoma State, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Maryland, @ Xavier, vs. Xavier, vs. Butler, @ Villanova

Up next: @ Creighton (2/19), vs. DePaul (2/22)

Providence Friars, 15-11 (5-8): Not sure how, but I guess, welcome to the bubble Providence! Winning at home against Butler was huge for the resume, as has the rise of Georgetown in recent weeks. The Friars are an odd team to follow, but they have two major opportunities in their next games. Win both of those and you can really consider Providence a serious threat to make the tournament.

Quality wins: vs. Butler, vs. Rhode Island, vs. Seton Hall, vs. Georgetown, @ Georgetown, @ Marquette

Bad losses: @ Ohio State, vs. St. John’s, @ Boston College, @ DePaul

Missed opportunities: vs. Villanova, @ Villanova, @ Butler, @ Xavier, vs. Virginia, vs. Creighton, @ Seton Hall

Up next: vs. Xavier (2/15), @ Creighton (2/22)