Busting Brackets
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 11
Next
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns reacts. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns reacts. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

Big 12 Conference

Lead-pipe lock: Kansas, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Kansas State

Firmly in the field: Baylor, TCU

Some perspiration: Texas

Double the deodorant: Oklahoma.

Baylor Bears (16-8, 7-4 B12)

NET: 32 | KPI: 31 | SOR: 46 | BPI: 35 | KP: 31 | Sag: 35

Q1: 3-5 | Q2: 7-1 | Q3: 1-0 | Q4: 5-2

Baylor is still comfortably in the NCAA Tournament, in my opinion. To be totally honest, it is very odd that a power conference team has won seven of their last nine games and still sits firmly on the bubble. But that is exactly what Baylor signed up for after a poor non-conference slate. The Bears still need to maintain their current level of play to remain firmly in the field and that may be tough to do given their difficult closing schedule. This team should still safely dance but do not just assume they are clearly in given their recent play. The entire body of work matters and those two Q4 losses will hurt them. Current projected seed: No. 9.

TCU Horned Frogs (17-7, 5-6 B12)

NET: 34 | KPI: 28 | SOR: 32 | BPI: 38 | KP: 33 | Sag: 30

Q1: 1-6 | Q2: 5-1 | Q3: 7-0 | Q4: 4-0 

TCU added a big win during this past week when they went on the road and took down a hot Iowa State team. This gave the Horned Frogs their first Q1 win of the season and propelled them up every metric used by the committee. And while they did drop their next game, a home bout with Kansas, it is safe to say that this was a successful weak for TCU. Due to their overall lack of quality wins, it is hard to say that the Horned Frogs are safely in the field but they should dance if the tournament started now. Additionally, their closing schedule is fairly favorable as two of their last three road games will come against West Virginia and Oklahoma State. Current projected seed: No. 9.

Texas Longhorns (14-11, 6-6 B12)

NET: 35 | KPI: 29 | SOR: 55 | BPI: 30 | KP: 28 | Sag: 27

Q1: 4-6 | Q2: 4-4 | Q3: 3-1 | Q4: 3-0

Texas predictably split their last two games, defeating West Virginia on the road and then dropping a home game to Kansas State. On the whole, the Longhorns have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the nation so far this season but they are in pretty good shape with regards to making the tournament due to their high number of quality wins. Head coach Shaka Smart’s seat should cool down a bit if this team keeps playing at their current level. After their upcoming home meeting with Oklahoma State, though, Texas finishes its regular season with five straight games against KenPom top-50 teams. It won’t be easy. Current projected seed: No. 9.

Oklahoma Sooners (15-10, 3-9 B12)

NET: 42 | KPI: 33 | SOR: 37 | BPI: 39 | KP: 41 | Sag: 37

Q1: 3-8 | Q2: 5-2 | Q3: 7-0 | Q4: 0-0

Oklahoma’s resume definitely looks like one that is worthy of making the NCAA Tournament but their play as of late says otherwise. The Sooners are currently on a five-game losing streak and their closing schedule does not paint a pretty picture of the future. As one of the few teams in the country that is yet to play a Q4 game, Oklahoma’s strength of schedule will help carry them throughout the year but they cannot afford to allow this losing streak to continue for much longer. The Sooners have plummeted in recent weeks and are nearing the danger zone of the bubble. It is time to turn things around if they want to dance. Current projected seed: No. 10.

Home/Bracketology