Once again, there is a new No. 1 seed. Florida takes control of the top seed in the South, with UConn bumping down to a No. 2 after Florida dominated a very competitive Arkansas team 111-77. The Gators are playing as well as anyone right now and it is worth noting that a portion of where the committee places each team is based on the eye-test. Arizona has jumped Michigan for the No. 2 overall seed as they cruised to victory against Iowa State on Monday night. Michigan State has stayed hot as well with another win, this time against Indiana. The Spartans have been elevated to a No. 3 seed. This week will feature many more critical games as the regular season comes to a close.
It was an eventful weekend for the bubble. Auburn and Indiana both suffered losses that would leave them on the wrong side of the bubble. Although Auburn has been heavily credited for their Strength of Schedule, their loss to Ole Miss is their first quadrant 3 loss, their undefeated record in quadrants 3 and 4 prior to this game kept the Tigers on the right side of the bubble. Now sitting at 15-14, earning a bid will be extremely difficult.
Replacing those two teams are New Mexico and VCU. New Mexico has the same amount of quadrant 1 wins as Indiana in six less quadrant 1 games. VCU's 17-0 record against quadrant 3 and 4 teams can help the Rams significantly, as many bubble teams could be plagued by their bad losses. Unfortunately for California, their loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday hurts them terribly as a win likely would have had them on the right side of the bubble. California has Georgia Tech and Wake Forest remaining, which likely will not be enough alone to boost the Golden Bears up.
Heading out to Columbus, Ohio, State picked up a gigantic win on Sunday against Purdue to boost them to a First Four bye. The Buckeyes will host Indiana in a crucial game for both squads this Saturday. With most of the bubble teams having just two regular season games remaining, much of the bubble will have to wait to be determined until after conference tournaments.
Bracket is forecasted on games through March 2.
Bubble Watch:
Last Four Byes:Â Texas A&M, SMU, UCLA, Ohio St.
Last Four In:Â TCU, Santa Clara, New Mexico, VCU
First Four Out:Â Indiana, San Diego St., Auburn, Cal
Next Four Out:Â Virginia Tech, USC, West Virginia, Seton Hall
East (Washington, D.C.)
Greenville
(1) Duke (ACC) vs. (16) UMBC (America East)/(16) Tennessee St. (OVC)
(8) UCF vs. (9) Miami (OH) (MAC)
Tampa
(5) St. John's vs. (12) Belmont (MVC)
(4) Virginia vs. (13) Yale (Ivy)
Tampa
(6) Kentucky vs. (11) UCLA
(3) Illinois vs. (14) UNC Wilmington (CAA)
Saint Louis
(7) Villanova vs. (10) Texas A&M
(2) Iowa St. vs. (15) Navy (Patriot)
West (San José)
San Diego
(1) Arizona (Big 12) vs. (16) Merrimack (MAAC)
(8) Utah St. vs. (9) North Carolina St.
Greenville
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Stephen F. Austin (Southland)
(4) Gonzaga (WCC) vs. (13) Hawai'i (Big West)
Portland
(6) Wisconsin vs. (11) Santa Clara/(11) VCU
(3) Michigan St. vs. (14) Utah Valley (WAC)
Oklahoma City
(7) BYU vs. (10) Texas
(2) Purdue vs. (15) Portland St. (Big Sky)
Midwest (Chicago)
Buffalo
(1) Michigan (Big Ten) vs. (16) Howard (MEAC)/(16) Bethune-Cookman (SWAC)
(8) Miami (FL) vs. (9) Georgia
Portland
(5) Arkansas vs. (12) Liberty (C-USA)
(4) Texas Tech vs. (13) East Tennessee St. (SoCon)
Buffalo
(6) Louisville vs. (11) TCU/(11) New Mexico
(3) Nebraska vs. (14) North Dakota St. (Summit)
Saint Louis
(7) Saint Louis (A10) vs. (10) SMU
(2) Houston vs. (15) Wright St. (Horizon)
South (Houston)
Philadelphia
(1) Florida (SEC) vs. (16) Long Island (NEC)
(8) Clemson vs. (9) Iowa
San Diego
(5) North Carolina vs. (12) South Florida (American)
(4) Alabama vs. (13) High Point (Big South)
Philadelphia
(6) Tennessee vs. (11) Ohio St.
(3) Kansas vs. (14) Central Arkansas (ASUN)
Oklahoma City
(7) Saint Mary's vs. (10) Missouri
(2) UConn (Big East) vs. (15) Troy (Sun Belt)
