NCAA Bracketology: Buy or sell mid-major bubble teams in 2019
By TJ Miller
Lipscomb – BUY
Record: 18-4 (9-0 ASUN)
NET: 32
Best wins: at TCU, at Liberty
Coach Casey Alexander put his squad to the test during the non-conference play scoring early back to back wins at SMU and TCU. The upset at TCU was quality at the time and should continue to qualify as such as long as the Horned Frogs don’t collapse down the stretch in the Big 12. Lipscomb’s only double-digit defeat came at Clemson and although scoring a win over Louisville or not going winless in the home/away series with Belmont would have helped, none of these losses are glaring flaws.
Lipscomb has cruised through conference play so far, winning all but two games by double digits. Most recently, the Bisons scored a 79-59 victory at Liberty in what was supposed to be the biggest conference test so far. Because the ASUN only has nine teams, conference play has just sixteen games, two less than most leagues. Dare we say finishing 16-0 in league play is not only possible but likely at this point?
This is a well-balanced team that ranks 73rd in adjusted offense and 18th defensively via KenPom. Coming off its first ever NCAA Tournament birth last season, this team is better both offensively and defensively than last year’s squad.
More good news is that the Bisons two most challenging games remaining both are home games facing 2nd place Liberty and 3rd place NJIT. The flip side is a loss in either of these games or any other defeat would likely cause a plummet to Lipscomb’s solid NET of 32. But, accomplish a perfect 16-0 in the ASUN, would leave the selection committee with the task of justifying leaving out a very deserving team.