Busting Brackets
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Bracketology 2020 Bubble Watch: Breaking down at-large contenders

By Lukas Harkins

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 08: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers takes a shot over Trayce Jackson-Davis #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Assembly Hall on February 08, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 08: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers takes a shot over Trayce Jackson-Davis #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Assembly Hall on February 08, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 15: Coach Ewing of the Hoyas talks. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 15: Coach Ewing of the Hoyas talks. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Lead-Pipe Locks: Seton Hall, Creighton, Villanova, Butler, Marquette.

Safely in the field: Xavier.

Some perspiration: Georgetown.

Double the deodorant: Providence.

Xavier Musketeers (17-9, 6-7 BE)

NET: 39 | KPI: 28 | SOR: 39 | BPI: 49 | KP: 42 | Sag: 30

Q1: 3-8 | Q2: 6-1 | Q3: 4-0 | Q4: 4-0

While essentially every other bubble team in the country has failed to secure wins recently, Xavier has propelled itself into a pretty safe spot. The Musketeers have won four of their last five games with the lone loss coming at Butler. They have secured three road victories during this stretch, including a very impressive one over Seton Hall. Xavier’s metrics all rank in the Top 50 and it is now exactly 9-9 in Q1+2 games without any bad losses. Xavier will play three of its final five games at home while it looks to improve its seeding and move up the Big East standings. Current Bracketology Placement: No. 9 seed. 

Georgetown Hoyas (15-10, 5-7 BE)

NET: 45 | KPI: 35 | SOR: 46 | BPI: 60 | KP: 45 | Sag: 46 

Q1: 5-9 | Q2: 4-1 | Q3: 1-0 | Q4: 5-0

Georgetown has won three of its last four and has also moved onto the right side of the bubble with its recent play. Despite missing Mac McClung and Omer Yurtseven, the team is playing at a high level and feeding off its desperation. Six regular-season games remain for the Hoyas as they look to stick in the projected field. The Hoyas have five Q1 wins and that is very impressive for a bubble team. The road ahead is challenging but Coach Ewing’s men are playing well. Bringing back McClung and Yurtseven will also help.  Current Bracetology Placement: No. 10 seed.

Providence Friars (14-12, 7-6 BE)

NET: 58 | KPI: 49 | SOR: 75 | BPI: 68 | KP: 58 | Sag: 48 

Q1: 5-8 | Q2: 2-0 | Q3: 3-3 | Q4: 4-1

Providence dropped back-to-back road games recently but then responded by returning home and knocking off Seton Hall. This victory helped keep Providence’s at-large hopes alive as it represented yet another high-quality win. The Friars have been fighting to overcome four non-conference Q3+4 losses for the past couple of months while securing five Q1 wins. A closing schedule featuring three of five games at home looms as Providence looks to improve its overall winning percentage. This team is not yet out of contention for an at-large bid. Current Bracketology Placement: OUT. 

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