Busting Brackets
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Bracketology Bubble Watch: Who is shooting for an at-large bid?

By Lukas Harkins

BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers prepares to shoot a free throw against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers prepares to shoot a free throw against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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VILLANOVA, PA – NOVEMBER 17: Furman Paladins celebrate. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA – NOVEMBER 17: Furman Paladins celebrate. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Southern Conference

Lead-pipe lock: None.

Firmly in the field: None.

Some perspiration: Wofford

Double the deodorant: UNC Greensboro, Furman.

Wofford Terriers (22-4, 14-0 SC)

NET: 29 | KPI: 47 | SOR: 20 | BPI: 28 | KP: 32 | Sag: 47

Q1: 2-4 | Q2: 3-0 | Q3: 5-0 | Q4: 9-0

For those of you who have followed my bracketology and bubble watch updates throughout this year, it should come as no surprise that I have Wofford in the “some perspiration” section. I am in love with this team and I really want to see them in the NCAA Tournament. Even though they are from the mid-major ranks, the Terriers hold five Q1/2 wins and there are plenty of bubble teams with similar numbers there. Additionally, their metrics rankings are superb and they are definitely deserving of a high seed for a mid-major, in my opinion. Current projected seed: No. 8.

UNC Greensboro Spartans (22-4, 11-2 SC)

NET: 53 | KPI: 57 | SOR: 38 | BPI: 73 | KP: 80 | Sag: 81

Q1: 1-4 | Q2: 1-0 | Q3: 5-0 | Q4: 13-0

Even though they took a recent loss at the hands of Furman, UNCG definitely still belongs in the at-large conversation. They have a superb overall record on the season and are yet to suffer a bad loss. Okay, well, maybe getting destroyed by Wofford (72-43) in front of their home crowd was a bad loss but that was not too detrimental to their resume. With regular-season opportunities left against Wofford and East Tennessee State, the Spartans can make another run at an at-large bid even though they lost their last game. They need to find a way to improve their quality rankings, though. Current projected seed: OUT (Next Four Out).

Furman Paladins (21-5, 10-4 SC)

NET: 46 | KPI: 71 | SOR: 42 | BPI: 64 | KP: 58 | Sag: 85

Q1: 1-4 | Q2: 3-0 | Q3: 2-1 | Q4: 12-0

After taking down Villanova on the road earlier this year and then starting the season at 12-0, Furman gathered plenty of steam as a potential at-large team from the SoCon. Then, though, that conversation abruptly stopped when they went 5-5 over the end of December into January. As winners of five straight games, including two over East Tennessee State and UNCG, though, the Paladins are back in the conversation. Their rankings might not be great but they have the type of closing schedule that can really put them in decent shape. This is due to the fact that they have three pretty easy games and a huge home opportunity versus Wofford left on the schedule. If they go 4-0, hello at-large contention. Current projected seed: OUT (Next Four Out).

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