Daniel Evans (@bracketexpert) is RTC’s new resident bracketologist. According to Bracket Matrix, he ranks as one of the top several bracketologists among those who have produced brackets for more than three years, including two seasons with perfect bracket projections. He updates the field daily on his site, Bracketology Expert, and will be producing a weekly bracket update here at RTC on Fridays. RTC Bubble Watch will publish on Sunday nights and Thursday afternoons for the rest of the season.
Bracket Math: Below there are 25 locks along the right column. Basically, that number means that if none of my “locks” clinch an automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament, there are only 12 at-large spots available. In most years, an average of around six “locks” win automatic bids, meaning there are 18 un-clinched spots for the NCAA Tournament. I also have five teams in the “should be in” category, meaning I projected their odds of getting an at-large bid at 70% of higher. If those five teams do get in, there are 13 total spots available for the teams you see below in my bubble watch.
LOCKS: 25
“SHOULD BE INS”: 5
TOTAL: 30 (minus 6 for projected auto bid winners=24)
PROJECTED AT-LARGE SPOTS AVAILABLE: 13
- Odds Improving: Iowa State, Indiana State, Oklahoma State, Arkansas (but still not on the “Watch”)
- Odds Decreasing: UNLV, Boise State, Air Force, Alabama, Iowa (not on the “Watch”)
- Locks That Are Trying My Patience: Missouri, Cincinnati, UCLA
UPDATED THROUGH ALL GAMES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2013
Conference USA: Zero Locks, Two Bubble Teams | LOCKS: NONE |
Memphis (19-3, 8-0; RPI: 43): The Tigers would be better off taking the easy route into the NCAA Tournament: win the Conference USA Tournament. I can’t remember CUSA down as much as it is this season. Memphis has no top 50 wins and doesn’t get a chance for a good win the rest of the way. Sure, Southern Miss is No. 38 in the RPI, but I would be shocked if they remain at that ranking the rest of the season. Memphis doesn’t even have a top 75 win. Of course, Tigers fans will tell you that Memphis’ three losses are all to teams in the top 50 of the RPI. That’s true, but wins get you into the dance. Right now, Memphis doesn’t have any good ones and doesn’t have a chance to get any. AT-LARGE ODDS: 50%Southern Miss (18-5, 7-1; RPI: 38): Southern Miss mainly makes this list due to the Eagles high RPI. A loss on Wednesday night to UCF hinders the Eagles’ at-large hopes, because Southern Miss’ best scenario was to at least split their its best two games with Memphis and run through every other game without a loss. AT-LARGE ODDS: 30%
Other Conference USA Teams with an at-large chance: None |
Missouri Valley: Two Locks, One Bubble Team | LOCKS: |
Missouri Valley Overview: It looks like Creighton and Wichita State are locks at this point to make the field. The only drama is whether or not Indiana State can play its way in over the next two months. The Sycamores victory on Tuesday night over Wichita State definitely made things interesting.Indiana State (15-8, 8-4; RPI: 54): It has been a whirlwind stretch for the Sycamores. Indiana State upset Wichita State but followed that win up by losing at Drake. On Wednesday night, Indiana State upset Creighton. It appears Indiana State plays up and down to its competition. How else can you explain wins over Mississippi and Miami (Fla.) and losses to Morehead State and Southern Illinois? AT-LARGE ODDS: 55%
Other Missouri Valley teams with an at-large chance: None |
Mountain West: One Lock, Six Bubble Teams | LOCKS: |
Colorado State (19-4, 6-2; RPI: 15): Colorado State has a strong RPI (#21 is the lowest RPI to ever miss the Big Dance) and a great win against UNLV to highlight its profile. The Rams also own victories at Washington and against Mountain West bubble teams Air Force, Boise State, and Wyoming. The Rams are in great shape right now. AT-LARGE ODDS: 70%UNLV (17-6, 4-4; RPI: 17): UNLV was looking good a couple of weeks ago and even entering the last seven days, the Rebels still seemed destined for an at-large berth. Now, I’m not so sure. Back to back losses at Boise State and at Fresno State leave this team 1-4 on the road in Mountain West play. The next five games are all against possible Mountain West NCAA Tournament teams too. AT-LARGE ODDS: 65%
San Diego State (17-5, 5-3; RPI: 30): San Diego State has some fantastic wins: UCLA, Colorado State, New Mexico, and Indiana State. Before Wednesday night’s one point win against Boise State, the Aztecs were starting to free fall a little bit. Inconsistency seems to rule the Mountain West. San Diego State has three RPI top 100 wins and not a single loss outside the RPI top 100. AT-LARGE ODDS: 65% Boise State (15-7, 3-5; RPI: 52): Boise State’s one point loss to San Diego State on Wednesday night was a big blow to the Broncos at-large hopes. There are only so many bids to go around in the Mountain West and right now the Broncos appear to be in the second tier of teams. Still, a win at Creighton is impressive and a victory over UNLV at home shows that this team is worthy of at-large bid consideration. AT-LARGE ODDS: 50% Wyoming (16-6, 2-6; RPI: 63): A 13-0 start has turned into a 15-6 record now that conference play has started in the very competitive Mountain West. Wyoming has two RPI top 50 victories over Colorado and San Diego State, but no other wins against the top RPI 100. The Cowboys have now lost four straight Mountain West games. AT-LARGE ODDS: 30% Air Force (14-7, 5-3; RPI: 67): Of course, Air Force would get routed by New Mexico after I included the Falcons in my last bubble watch. This team has only one top 50 win (San Diego State) meaning it has a ton of work to do to get itself into serious at-large bid consideration. AT-LARGE ODDS: 15% Other Mountain West teams with an at-large chance: None |
Pac-12: Three Locks, Three Bubble Teams | LOCKS: |
Pac-12 Overview: Arizona and Oregon are going to the NCAA Tournament, and I can’t see UCLA not getting in the field. Therefore, the Bruins are among my locks. The three teams below all have a lot of work to do to get into the field. Colorado is relying on a strong RPI, while the RPI continues to hold Arizona State back despite a good record.Colorado (14-7, 4-5; RPI: 25): Saturday’s loss at Utah was a big blow for a Buffaloes team that can’t use any bad defeats the rest of the way. Next up are huge games at Oregon and at Oregon State. AT-LARGE ODDS: 55%
Arizona State (17-4, 6-3; RPI: 59): Two nights after holding off Washington State for a four point win, the Sun Devils fell at Washington by four points. Next up are three very winnable games: California, Stanford, and at Utah. AT-LARGE ODDS: 50% Washington (13-9, 5-4; RPI: 67): Washington’s big win over Arizona State on Saturday night has given the Huskies six RPI top 100 wins. Only one of those wins is against a team currently ranked in the RPI top 50: Colorado. Still, the win over the Sun Devils ended a four game losing streak for the Huskies. AT-LARGE ODDS: 35% Other Pac 12 teams with an at-large chance: Stanford (10%), California (10%) |