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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 West Virginia Mountaineers guard Erik Stevenson Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Bracketology West Virginia Mountaineers guard Erik Stevenson Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

West Virginia: 17-13 (6-11 in Big 12) NET: 24

If there’s any indication at the strength of the Big 12 it’s that West Virginia’s NET is at 24 despite losing nearly a dozen conference games. Aside from a blowout road win at Pittsburgh (a win that looks a lot better four months later), West Virginia didn’t do much during the nonconference season. Their resume, which includes 5 Quad 1 wins, was built on a sweep of Iowa State (completed on the road this past Monday) and wins against TCU, Texas Tech, and Auburn.

Is that enough? They had close calls against Baylor and Kansas but didn’t knock out one of those top-tier teams in the league. The Mountaineers have no bad losses, which may be the reason for their good metrics. Their worst loss might be the home loss to Texas Tech that they took just a few weeks ago. When you’re in a dangerous league like the Big 12, you really need to stockpile wins when possible and a 6-11 mark just isn’t cutting it for most people.

Still, the metrics are good enough and West Virginia would be in the field right now. A home game against Kansas State finishes the regular season and winning that game might clinch their at-large bid. The Mountaineers have been much better after an 0-5 start in the conference, and you have to wonder how all these Big 12 foes have prepared them for the postseason. Winning another game or two before Selection Sunday would help the rest of us find out.

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