Bracketology: 10 key storylines for Championship Week in 2019

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Mamadi Diakite #25 and the Virginia Cavaliers bench cheers in the second half during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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RICHMOND, KY – FEBRUARY 16: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers talks to a referee during the game against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at CFSB Center on February 16, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

6. Be on the lookout for bid stealers

For neutral observers, championship games that involve a surefire bid stealer are some of the most fun, because of the massive implications it may have. Wins by the underdogs soak up potential bids from at-large contenders and shrink up the bubble before Selection Sunday.

With mid-majors such as Gonzaga, Buffalo, Nevada, Wofford, and VCU all but assured a bid regardless, the door is open for other teams not projected to get in to crash the party. Even power conferences such as the Big East and Pac-12 are realistic candidates for teams to make an unexpected run.

Related Story. Most likely bid thieves in conference tournaments. light

Even before Monday, there already has been some big results. Top seeds Lipscomb and Belmont have lost their respective conference tournament finals and now have to wait over a week to find their fate. Both are either right on the cut line or just out and will need many different results to go the right way.

So not only do all of those powerhouse mid-majors have to win for the Bison and Bruins to really have a shot, but they also have to monitor what happens in the power conferences. Bubble teams such as Texas, TCU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Clemson, Indiana, Creighton, Georgetown, Arizona State, and others can play their way into the Big Dance and pass up the mid-majors who can’t play anymore this season.

Thursday, which is when the quarterfinals startup for most of the power conferences will be a key day that defines the bubble. What happens then will tell us how much of a chance Lipscomb and Belmont truly have.

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