Bracketology 2024: Latest Bubble Watch of key teams in late February

Nebraska (18-8) (NET: 49)
3-6 (Q1), 3-2 (Q2), 5-0 (Q3), 7-0 (Q4)

What’s built the Cornhuskers’ resume has been their performance at home in the Big Ten. There wasn’t a lot to note about the nonconference schedule, but Nebraska has won Quad 1 games at home over Michigan State, Purdue, and Wisconsin this season, with a few other Quad 2 wins in league play.

They still haven’t won a road game in league play, including Quad 2 losses against Rutgers and Minnesota; two games they can avenge before the regular season ends. Aside from that, there hasn’t been much to complain about for the Cornhuskers, though a 29-point loss to Creighton in December was certainly disheartening.

Five regular season games remain and the trouble is that none of these are against top-tier teams in the league. Nebraska’s resume isn’t in bad shape by any means, but anything short of winning out will leave them uncomfortable heading towards the Big Ten Tournament, including road tests at Indiana and Ohio State in the coming weeks.

Nevada (19-6) (NET: 44)
5-4 (Q1), 1-1 (Q2), 5-1 (Q3), 8-0 (Q4)

The hot start to Nevada’s season included Quad 1 wins at Washington and against TCU in Hawaii. They’ve paired those wins nicely with Quad 1 victories against Colorado State, Utah State (on the road), and San Diego State in the past month.

The bad losses came in the league play and both happened in a tough stretch in the middle of January. Losing at home to Boise State isn’t the end of the world, but the Quad 3 loss was an abhorrent defensive effort on the road against Wyoming. The NET could certainly be in better shape without those two defeats.

Those recent Quad 1 wins have elevated Nevada into these kinds of conversations, winning their last two games away from home (both as the underdog). It’s important for the Wolf Pack to keep playing their kind of basketball, especially with tough road games against Colorado State and Boise State still looming.