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Bracketology Bubble Watch: UCLA, Texas trending upward

By Lukas Harkins

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 6: Soap bubbles are seen in front of St. Peter's Basilica at sunset on February 6, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 6: Soap bubbles are seen in front of St. Peter's Basilica at sunset on February 6, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – FEBRUARY 20: Stanford Cardinal look on. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – FEBRUARY 20: Stanford Cardinal look on. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Lead-Pipe Locks: Oregon, Colorado, Arizona

Safely in the field: None.

Some perspiration: Stanford, USC, Arizona State.

Double the deodorant: UCLA

Stanford Cardinal (20-9, NET: 25)

Bracketology Average: IN (127/136 brackets) – 10.83 seed.

Stanford has climbed back into pretty safe territory over the past couple of weeks while winning four in a row. The most recent victory in this stretch came over Colorado as well to give the Cardinal a win over the projected field. I am a bit higher than most with regard to Stanford’s resume but a high NET rating, a 7-8 record in Q1+2 games, and only one “bad loss” is hard to disagree with as a tournament team right now. Stanford finishes with road games at Oregon and Oregon State before the P12 Tournament.

USC Trojans (21-9, NET: 39)

Bracketology Average: IN (134/136 brackets) – 9.78 seed.

USC got back on track during this past week during a huge homestand in which the team took down Arizona and Arizona State within the span of three days. This once again put the Trojans in a strong position with regard to reaching the NCAA Tournament. USC’s efficiency metrics are relatively pedestrian but the team is 11-8 in Q1+2 with only one loss outside of those quadrants. This is a squad that has consistently performed well enough to win and that deserves to be commended. The Trojans finish with UCLA at home and a win might lock up a bid.

Arizona State Sun Devils (19-10, NET: 49)

Bracketology Average: IN (131/136 brackets) – 9.32 seed.

Arizona State moved into “safe” positioning last week following a seven-game winning streak. The Sun Devils responded by dropping both of their recent road games to USC and UCLA to fall down a category. In a similar fashion to USC, Arizona State’s efficiency metrics aren’t great nor is its NET ranking. Yet, the team is 9-10 in Q1+2 games without any bad losses. The Sun Devils finish with a two-game homestand against Washington and Washington State that should put them in a good position to hear their name called on Selection Sunday.

UCLA Bruins (19-11, NET: 75)

Bracketology Average: IN (87/136 brackets) – 11.41 seed.

Many bracketologists have moved UCLA into their field over the past week as the team has truly impressed during its current seven-game winning streak. The Bruins are now 6-6 in Q1 games (3-3 in Q1A) and have been soaring towards the cutline as a result. While it is easy to become infatuated with how well the Bruins have been playing as of late, it’s impossible to ignore that their computer numbers are quite weak. In fact, UCLA only ranks in the Top 50 in one of the six metrics listed on the official team sheet and three of those numbers are outside of the Top 75.

This resume will be tricky for the committee to analyze heading into Selection Sunday. It is also important to mention that a large number of bracketologists with the Bruins in their field could be awarding them the automatic bid for holding the P12 lead rather than putting them in due to resume.

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