W-3 BP68

I have to admit that I just haven't had the time to watch as much hoops this week as I normally like to due to work commitments. To that end, I am pre-emptively apologizing for whatever I'm super wrong on this week (I'll just go out on a limb and assume that it's Maryland).

Anyway, one thing that certainly did happen this week is the strengthening for the bubble. I know that we're supposed to say how the bubble is so "weak" every season, but right now it's actually a bit atypically strong. And that led to quite a bit of at-large churn this week. In all, Arkansas, Illinois St, and Michigan moved into to the Field of 68, while Indiana, Rhode Island, and Utah dropped out.

One other change was the top of the ACC, where North Carolina's home game against Louisville on Wednesday makes them the favorites to take the ACC regular season title (and thus the favorites to take the ACC tournament title). As such, they slide up to a projected 1 seed.

In all, 10 teams were eliminated from at-large contention this week: Arkansas St, La Salle, North Carolina St, Oklahoma, Richmond, Rutgers, Temple, Texas, Tulsa, and Washington St. That leaves just 36 teams not in the projected bracket that still have a chance for an at-large bid.

Capitalized teams are projected automatic bid winners. Remember that this is a projection of what the bracket will look like on Selection Sunday, and not a measure of where teams would be if the season ended now:

1. VILLANOVA (BIG EAST)
1. KANSAS (BIG 12)
1. GONZAGA (WCC)
1. NORTH CAROLINA (ACC)

2. ARIZONA (PAC-12)
2. Louisville
2. KENTUCKY (SEC)
2. Virginia

3. Baylor
3. Florida
3. WISCONSIN (BIG TEN)
3. Purdue

4. Duke
4. Oregon
4. CINCINNATI (AAC)
4. UCLA

5. West Virginia
5. Florida State
5. SMU
5. Butler

6. Maryland
6. Notre Dame
6. Oklahoma State
6. DAYTON (ATLANTIC TEN)

7. Saint Mary's
7. Iowa State
7. Minnesota
7. South Carolina

8. Creighton
8. Northwestern
8. VCU
8. Xavier

9. WICHITA STATE (MVC)
9. Michigan State
9. Virginia Tech
9. Miami FL

10. USC
10. Michigan
10. Kansas State
10. California

11. Marquette
11. Arkansas
11. TCU
11. Wake Forest
11. MIDDLE TENNESSEE (CONFERENCE USA)

12. Illinois State
12. Syracuse
12. NEVADA (MOUNTAIN WEST)
12. UNC-WILMINGTON (COLONIAL)
12. TEXAS-ARLINGTON (SUN BELT)

13. AKRON (MAC)
13. MONMOUTH (MAAC)
13. VALPARAISO (HORIZON)
13. NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC)

14. EAST TENNESSEE ST (SOCON)
14. PRINCETON (IVY LEAGUE)
14. VERMONT (AMERICA EAST)
14. FLORIDA GULF COAST (ATLANTIC SUN)

15. BELMONT (OVC)
15. BUCKNELL (PATRIOT)
15. UNC-ASHEVILLE (BIG SOUTH)
15. NORTH DAKOTA ST (SUMMIT)

16. UC-IRVINE (BIG WEST)
16. WEBER STATE (BIG SKY)
16. TEXAS SOUTHERN (SWAC)
16. NEW ORLEANS (SOUTHLAND)
16. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL (MEAC)
16. MOUNT ST MARY'S (NEC)

Teams seriously considered that just missed the cut:
Houston, Rhode Island, Indiana, Utah, Tennessee

Decent resumes, but not good enough:
Clemson, Seton Hall, Alabama, Georgia

Long shots, but still in the at-large discussion:
Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Providence, Illinois, Ohio St, Penn St, Texas Tech, Boise St, Stanford, Auburn, Mississippi, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

Still alive, but pretty much need a miracle:
UCF, UConn, Memphis, Pittsburgh, St. Bonaventure, St. John's, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado St, New Mexico, Arizona St, Colorado, Mississippi St, BYU