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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LINCOLN, NE – FEBRUARY 6: Coach Miles of the Cornhuskers talks. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – FEBRUARY 6: Coach Miles of the Cornhuskers talks. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

Big Ten Conference

Lead-pipe lock: Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland

Firmly in the field: None.

Some perspiration: Ohio State.

Double the deodorant: Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska.

Ohio State Buckeyes (17-9, 7-8 B10)

NET: 42 | KPI: 43 | SOR: 33 | BPI: 34 | KP: 34 | Sag: 36

Q1: 4-6 | Q2: 3-2 | Q3: 5-1 | Q4: 5-0 

Ohio State split its two matchups during this past week and therefore moved very little in projected fields. On the whole, the Buckeyes are still in relatively solid shape to make the field and I would be quite surprised if they slid all the way out in the coming weeks. But with a very difficult schedule remaining, it is not entirely out of the question. In order to feel safe about reaching the Big Dance, I think the Buckeyes should aim for at least two wins in their final five games. If they make that happen, an NCAA Tournament berth should be the reward. Current Projected Seed: No. 9.

Indiana Hoosiers (13-13, 4-11 B10)

NET: 56 | KPI: 62 | SOR: 61 | BPI: 48 | KP: 49 | Sag: 44

Q1: 5-9 | Q2: 0-4 | Q3: 2-0 | Q4: 6-0

Yes, Indiana is still a bubble team. I know this might be hard to believe given their recent play but it is true. Due to their five Q1 wins, the Hoosiers are definitely still in the conversation to make the Big Dance. With that said, though, they need to turn around their current trend immediately. That might seem like a tough task considering they have lost 11 of their 12 games but they could still dance if they start winning games. I would be surprised if they did manage to make the NCAA Tournament but they remain on the bubble…and trending down, down, down. Current Projected Seed: OUT (Next Four Out).

Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-10, 7-9 B10)

NET: 51 | KPI: 41 | SOR: 34 | BPI: 60 | KP: 47 | Sag: 47

Q1: 3-7 | Q2: 3-2 | Q3: 5-0 | Q4: 5-0

I am a little bit more skeptical of Minnesota’s resume than most but I also think they are in pretty decent shape at this point in time. With above-average metrics pretty much across the board, the Golden Gophers are in good shape there and their three Q1 wins are better than most teams on the bubble. Oh, and it always helps that they do not have a single bad loss. The Gophers are far from “safely in” but they have a good shot right now. The problem, though, is that three of their final four regular-season games will come on the road and the only home game is against Purdue. They will likely need to find a way to win a couple of those games. Current Projected Seed: No. 11 (Last Four Byes).

Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-12, 5-11 B10)

NET: 45| KPI: 65 | SOR: 58 | BPI: 35 | KP: 44 | Sag: 37

Q1: 2-9 | Q2: 5-3 | Q3: 3-0 | Q4: 4-0

Nebraska, just like Indiana, is somehow still a bubble team. Despite massive struggles in conference play, the Cornhuskers are riding solid NET/quality rankings to bubble status. Quite simply, I’m not quite sure how Nebraska is top-45 in every one of those metrics (except KPI/SOR) above but that is keeping them alive. But…with a murderous closing schedule ahead (vs. Purdue, at Michigan, at Michigan State, vs. Iowa), I don’t think Tim Miles and Co. will be dancing in March. They need to turn the ship around following their 24-point road loss to Penn State and do so in a hurry. Current Projected Seed: OUT (First Four Out).

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