As the regular season draws to a close, time is running out for teams fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. While teams in the West Coast Conference have a bit more time, most teams are entering the final week of their schedules. The upcoming conference tournaments are crucial, and contrary to popular belief, these games hold significant weight in determining tournament eligibility. The selection committee does not treat these matchups with any special consideration; they are regarded as just another game on the calendar, similar to those played in November. However, since many of these games are played at neutral sites, they carry additional value. Moreover, the winner of each conference tournament automatically qualifies for the NCAA Tournament, providing essential data for the committee's decision-making process.
In the latest Bracketology update, Houston has emerged as the newest No. 1 seed, while Michigan State is making a compelling case to secure a spot on the top line. With a packed schedule of important games slated for Saturday, fans should buckle up for a thrilling day of college basketball. For a comprehensive look at the full field of 68 teams and the latest Bubble Watch, visit the Bracketology hub.
All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET). The spotlight game is a 'double-bubble' matchup between Georgia and Texas, set for 8 p.m. on ESPN2. Both teams have similar profiles, with each having a record of 9-11 against the top three quadrants. The Longhorns have a slight edge in wins but also have one more loss in Quad 2. The Razorbacks currently hold the upper hand due to their victory in Austin, and Texas aims to even the score in this crucial head-to-head contest.
Several other bubble teams are also taking the court on Saturday:
North Carolina vs. Miami, 12 p.m. | ESPN: The Tar Heels are holding out for a significant matchup against Duke next week and cannot afford a loss before then.Arkansas at South Carolina, 1 p.m. | SEC Network: The Gamecocks have proven to be a dangerous opponent at home, recently defeating Texas, which impacts the Razorbacks' tournament aspirations.Nebraska vs. Minnesota, 2 p.m. | Big Ten Network: After losing three of their last four games, the Cornhuskers cannot afford a loss to the Gophers.Oklahoma at Ole Miss, 2 p.m. | ESPN2: Following a tough loss to Kentucky, the Sooners are under pressure to secure victories before the SEC Tournament.Cincinnati at Houston, 4:30 p.m. | CBS: Cincinnati has made strides in recent weeks, but they still need to perform well to secure their NCAA Tournament spot.Xavier vs. Creighton, 4:30 p.m. | Fox: Currently on the bubble, Xavier's chances of an at-large bid depend heavily on this matchup.Vanderbilt vs. Missouri, 6 p.m. | SEC Network: Even as a No. 8 seed, Vanderbilt's position remains precarious, requiring at least one win in their final three games.Indiana at Washington, 6 p.m. | Peacock: The Hoosiers must win to maintain their strong standing in Quad 1 games.Boise State at Fresno State, 7 p.m.: As the Broncos have just entered the bracket, they need to secure wins against struggling teams.San Diego State at Wyoming, 8 p.m. | CBS Sports Network: The Aztecs need to capitalize on their nonconference victories to maintain their position.Baylor vs. Oklahoma State, 8 p.m. | ESPN+: After a recent string of losses, Baylor must avoid a second Quad 3 defeat.West Virginia at BYU, 10 p.m. | ESPN2: The Mountaineers need to bounce back from inconsistency to remain in contention.San Francisco vs. Gonzaga, 11 p.m. | ESPN: This game is critical for San Francisco if they hope to secure an at-large bid.As of now, the NCAA Tournament has 23 locks based on resumes, with 14 at-large bids still in play. It's important to note that no automatic bids have been secured yet. Here’s a breakdown of the current standings:
ACC: 1 team (Duke)Big East: 2 teams (Marquette, St. John's)Big 12: 5 teams (Arizona, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech)Big Ten: 7 teams (Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, Purdue, UCLA, Wisconsin)SEC: 8 teams (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M)Keep in mind that all references to NCAA Tournament selection records and trends based on NET rankings exclude the 2021 tournament, due to its shortened schedule and limited number of nonconference games. These rankings may not be reliable for the current evaluations.
