W-3.5 BP68

A few days ago, the story was the strengthening of the bubble. But the past few days? The story has been the opposite. LSU, Vanderbilt, St. Bonaventure, South Carolina, and other potential bubble teams all suffered brutal losses.

The strength of the bubble will continue to ebb and flow throughout the final few weeks, of course, and we could always see some bids stolen during Championship Week. We still have a long way to go.

There was just one change to the projected Field of 68 since Saturday: Texas Tech moves in, replacing Vanderbilt.

Only three teams were eliminated from at-large contention since Saturday (Duquesne, Northern Iowa, and TCU), leaving 51 teams currently out of the projected bracket that still have a chance for an at-large bid. Quite a few more will be eliminated over the next few days.

Remember, 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. Teams capitalized are the projected auto-bid winners for their respective conferences.

For now, here's where I see things ending up on Selection Sunday:

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

2. ARIZONA (PAC-12)
2. Xavier
2. Iowa
2. MICHIGAN STATE (BIG TEN)

3. KENTUCKY (SEC)
3. Virginia
3. Maryland
3. West Virginia

4. Miami-Florida
4. Oregon
4. Duke
4. Iowa State

5. DAYTON (ATLANTIC TEN)
5. Purdue
5. Baylor
5. Texas A&M

6. Texas
6. USC
6. Indiana
6. Utah

7. Saint Joseph's
7. Notre Dame
7. Florida
7. UCONN (AAC)

8. California
8. VCU
8. Seton Hall
8. Wisconsin

9. Colorado
9. GONZAGA (WCC)
9. Syracuse
9. WICHITA STATE (MVC)

10. Providence
10. Pittsburgh
10. Texas Tech
10. Michigan

11. South Carolina
11. Cincinnati
11. MONMOUTH (MAAC)
11. LSU
11. Saint Mary's

12. ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK (SUN BELT)
12. Florida State
12. Saint Bonaventure
12. VALPARAISO (HORIZON)
12. AKRON (MAC)

13. SAN DIEGO STATE (MOUNTAIN WEST)
13. CHATTANOOGA (SOUTHERN)
13. UNC-WILMINGTON (COLONIAL)
13. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (SUMMIT)

14. STONY BROOK (AMERICA EAST)
14. HAWAII (BIG WEST)
14. YALE (IVY LEAGUE)
14. UAB (CONFERENCE USA)

15. BELMONT (OVC)
15. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (SOUTHLAND)
15. UNC-ASHEVILLE (BIG SOUTH)
15. NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC)

16. MONTANA (BIG SKY)
16. NORTH FLORIDA (ATLANTIC SUN)
16. BUCKNELL (PATRIOT)
16. TEXAS SOUTHERN (SWAC)
16. WAGNER (NEC)
16. NORFOLK STATE (MEAC)

Teams seriously considered that just missed the cut:
Tulsa, George Washington, Butler, Alabama, Vanderbilt

Decent resumes, but not good enough:
Clemson, Creighton, Ohio State, Oregon State, Washington, BYU

Long shots, but still in the at-large discussion:
Temple, Davidson, Georgetown, Kansas State, Princeton, Arizona State, Stanford, UCLA, Georgia

Still alive, but pretty much need a miracle:
Houston, Memphis, Georgia Tech, NC State, Virginia Tech, Rhode Island, Richmond, Marquette, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Oklahoma State, UC-Irvine, Long Beach State, Hofstra, William & Mary, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Ohio, Evansville, Illinois State, Southern Illinois, Boise State, Nevada, New Mexico, Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee, UT-Arlington