Bubble Watch: 10 Days to Brackets 🙌

03/02/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Epic Night of College Hoops Brings More Regular-Season Conference Champs While Bubble Teams Begin to Panic

Ah, March. Welcome back, our old friend. The annual tradition of brackets and bubbles is finally upon us, and a few teams are sweating more than normal this time of year. A series of conference-altering games have brought us regular season conference titles this week, but last night’s chaos was a first step in solidifying March and the brackets-to-be.

Who Won Conference Titles?

Three teams were conference champs prior to last night, but we now have five (sort of). #1 Houston (American), #4 UCLA (Pac-12) and #6 Marquette (Big East) claimed regular season crowns earlier in the week, and last night’s loss by #9 Texas to #22 TCU handed #3 Kansas the Big 12. #2 Alabama needed a 17-point comeback and double overtime to outlast Auburn (90-85, 2OT) and capture their second SEC title in three years. #5 Purdue has at least a share of the Big Ten title after Northwestern’s loss, and they can win it outright tonight against Wisconsin. That leaves the ACC still searching after last night’s drama…

Regular Season Conference Champs

American: #1 Houston

Big 12: #3 Kansas

Big East: #6 Marquette

Big Ten: #5 Purdue (Share)

Pac-12: #4 UCLA

SEC: #2 Alabama

Still Undecided

ACC: #25 Pittsburgh (14-5), #16 Miami (14-5), Virginia (14-5)

ACC Final Weekend: Pittsburgh looked to take hold of the ACC on Wednesday night, but Notre Dame — in head coach Mike Brey’s final home game — upset the Panthers (88-81) to send Pitt into a three-way tie with Miami and Virginia. That opens the door for UVA when they face lowly Louisville (4-26) this weekend while Pitt and Miami face off on Saturday. If Virginia wins, the winner of the Pitt-Miami game will join them for a share of the ACC crown. If UVA loses, the Pitt-Miami winner takes the conference outright.

Bubble Teams to Watch

Two blue bloods in Kentucky and North Carolina have been on the bubble ever since the calendar turned to 2023. Kentucky is now firmly in the field, and last night’s upset loss to Vanderbilt (68-66) shouldn’t change that. UNC is still the biggest bubble team to watch as they fight for their NCAA Tournament lives in the ACC Tournament. Here are all the bubble teams (and our projections) to keep an eye on for the next 10 days before Selection Sunday

Last Four Byes: Boise State, Memphis, Nevada, West Virginia

Last Four In: Auburn, Mississippi State, Arizona State, Michigan

First Four Out: North Carolina, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Clemson

Next Four Out: Penn State, Texas Tech, Utah State, Vanderbilt

NCAA Tournament Breakdown of Teams by Conference

American: 2 Teams

ACC: 5 Teams

Big 12: 7 Teams

Big East: 5 Teams

Big Ten: 9 Teams

Mountain West: 3 Teams

Pac-12: 4 Teams