With Selection Sunday just under five weeks away we are starting to get a clearer picture of who’s in and who’s out. Many have already solidified themselves as locks to make it into the big dance, but a select few now find themselves in the tricky state of life on the bubble.
In this world one big win can do wonders for your chances, but one bad loss can pop your bubble and tournament hopes in an instant.
Here are the biggest games of the week in the college basketball bubble watch:
These are both teams near the bubble, but moving in completely different directions. Pitt went 0-2 last week including a humiliating double digit loss at home to Virginia while SMU is on a four game win streak.
With few resume building wins left on the schedule for the Panthers, a loss here could put the nail in the coffin of their tournament hopes.
Kansas State has just made their way into the bubble conversation this week as they are one of the hottest teams in the country. Jerome Tang’s team has won five straight and is coming off three straight Quad 1 wins.
The only team who may be hotter is Arizona who now ranks in the top 15 and has won 13 of their last 14.
Nebraska should be comfortably in at the moment, but another Quad 1 win here would have them feeling really good. When you're anywhere near the bubble you have to protect home court and that is what Nebraska will look to do on Thursday night against a Maryland team they lost to by one possession earlier in the year.
Prior to the season who would have thought that Arkansas and the bubble would be a conversation at all with all the talent John Calipari brought with him to Fayetteville. Well now the Razorbacks are a first four out team in most projections which means every game matters.
Saturday will be a big one for them, but they must first take care of business on Wednesday at home against LSU in a possible lookahead spot.
This is a big week for SMU as Wake Forest is the second team they will meet who is also on the bubble. A 2-0 week for the Mustangs would be huge, 1-1 would be fine, but 0-2 would be a big blow.
Both these teams have great overall records, but a combined Quad 1 record of 1-10 has them each squarely on the bubble.
Boise State at San Diego State, Saturday
The good ole Mountain West always have to make their presence felt on the bubble to create the argument of who is more deserving between them and the other mid-majors vs the power conference teams.
At the moment it is looking like the MWC will get three bids with one of these squads being that third team just squeaking in. The Aztecs defeated Boise back in early January but this one will surely have much higher bubble implications as we near March.
Now remember life on the bubble never stops so every game for these teams is important, but these are the most critical in terms of ones that could really make or break a teams chances. Enjoy the incredible week of college hoops that lies ahead with higher stakes as we get closer and closer to March Madness.