Bracketology Losers: Syracuse, Texas and St. John's suffer setbacks

Bracketology Losers: Syracuse, Texas and St. John’s suffer setbacks

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Oshae Brissett #11 and teammate Tyus Battle #25 of the Syracuse Orangereact after the conclusion of the first half of the game against Oregon Ducks during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns gestures during the championship game of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michigan State defeated Texas 78-68. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

In conference play, losses can now have bigger consequences for the NCAA Tournament. Which teams fared worst in terms of Bracketology?

Throughout the season, we here at Busting Brackets have been putting out a weekly series called “Bracketology Winners“. It detailed the teams during a particular seven-day stretch that accomplished the most when it comes to setting themselves up for the NCAA Tournament.

But it’s not all roses in college basketball, for as every team that wins, one must lose. And for said losers, it could have major implications by the time Selection Sunday comes around.
It’s fine for teams to lose games around this time. In fact, since the start of conference play, all but 59 teams have already suffered a defeat. Some to great teams that won’t have a negative impact down the road, while others had upset losses that may come back to haunt them in the future.

Similar to the “Winners” article, I’ll be taking a look at five teams specifically that didn’t have the kind of weeks they had hoped. But as you’ll see, there are different kinds of Bracketology “Losers”. There are teams who are safely projected in the Big Dance who slipped a bit, bubble teams that struggled and are now on the wrong side of said bubble, as well as those who missed prime opportunities to get a signature win and might not have many more chances.

These following teams had a bad week but there are plenty of more games to be played. Will any of them recover in time to make a postseason run or start to crumble under pressure?

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