Busting Brackets
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Bracketology 2023: Complete Bubble Watch before final weekend of regular season

By Joey Loose

Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn (23) fouls Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi (11) during the first half of their game Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.Uwmen18 11
Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn (23) fouls Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi (11) during the first half of their game Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.Uwmen18 11 /
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Bracketology Texas A&M Aggies forward Julius Marble (34) defends as Mississippi State Bulldogs guard/forward Cameron Matthews Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Bracketology Texas A&M Aggies forward Julius Marble (34) defends as Mississippi State Bulldogs guard/forward Cameron Matthews Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /

Mississippi State: 20-10 (8-9 in SEC) NET: 43

First and foremost, Mississippi State has had quite the season, starting off 11-0 in Chris Jans’ first season in Starkville. The Bulldogs have 4 Quad 1 wins and have held their own for the most part against a tough and deep SEC. Their NET could be in better shape, considering it was in the single digits before a rough stretch began in December.

After that perfect start, the Bulldogs lost eight of their next nine games and are still below .500 against their conference foes. A loss at Georgia during that stint remains their lone Quad 3 loss, but they also blew some opportunities, being swept by both Alabama and Tennessee in the process. Fortunately, Mississippi State has looked markedly better since late January, starting with an overtime win against TCU and continuing by winning seven of their next nine conference games.

While the Bulldogs are still paying for that bad January, they would be one of the last teams in the NCAA Tournament field right now. If they keep playing the way they’ve been playing, they won’t have to worry, though they’ll have a tricky road game at Vanderbilt on Saturday to finish off the regular season. Winning against the Commodores might secure them in the field. Losing on Saturday and playing poorly in the SEC Tournament will result in them staying at home.

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