Busting Brackets
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Bracketology Bubble Watch: Who deserves at-large consideration?

By Lukas Harkins

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Bubbles are seen prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Bubbles are seen prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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HARTFORD, CT – MARCH 11: Tacko Fall #24 of the UCF Knights looks ont. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT – MARCH 11: Tacko Fall #24 of the UCF Knights looks ont. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

American Athletic Conference

Lead-pipe lock: Houston, Cincinnati

Firmly in the field: None.

Some perspiration: None.

Double the deodorant: Temple, UCF.

Temple Owls (19-7, 9-4 AAC)

NET: 53 | KPI: 42 | SOR: 42 | BPI: 69 | KP: 72 | Sag: 69

Q1: 1-5 | Q2: 5-1 | Q3: 6-1 | Q4: 7-0

Temple only played one game during this past week and they managed to avoid disaster. This was due to the idea that a loss to South Florida, even on the road, would have been really detrimental to the Owls’ NCAA Tournament hopes. Yet, they were able to pull out the hard-fought road win to remain in most projected brackets. Temple has a relatively easy closing schedule but road bouts with Memphis and UConn will not be easy. Oh, and their regular-season finale, which comes against UCF, will be one with huge bubble implications. In order for Temple to feel safe in the field heading into conference tournament week, they should shoot for a 4-1 closing record. Current Projected Seed: No. 12 (Last Four In).

UCF Knights (19-6, 9-4 AAC)

NET: 39 | KPI: 35 | SOR: 47 | BPI: 46 | KP: 50 | Sag: 40

Q1: 0-3 | Q2: 5-2 | Q3: 8-1 | Q4: 6-0

UCF had a monster road opportunity this week when they had Cincinnati on the ropes in the second half before eventually dropping the game by five. And while this is certainly an understandable loss, the Knights do not own a single Q1 win right now and that is very harmful to their resume if they drop even one more game they shouldn’t. Even though I have UCF fairly safely in my field right now compared to some bubble teams, their margin for error is incredibly slim. The Knights’ lack of losses (just six all season) is keeping them buoyed despite their best win coming at home against another bubble team in Alabama. To feel comfortable heading in the AAC Tournament, UCF should shoot for at least a 3-2 finish and probably 4-1. That won’t be easy. Current Projected Seed: No. 11 (Last Four Byes).

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