Bracketology Bubble Watch: Miami (Ohio) beats Bowling Inexperienced, stays undefeated

No. 22 Miami (Ohio) started a busy weekend of bubble motion in faculty basketball on Friday evening by bettering to 27-0 with a 91-77 win over Bowling Inexperienced. With zero Quad 1 wins on their resume, the Redhawks’ margin for error stays slim. However that is been the case all season, and it hasn’t deterred Miami from reaching perfection to this point.

The evening was much less joyous for VCU, which remained simply on the improper aspect of the bubble after a 88-75 loss at No. 18 Saint Louis. The Rams led 42-33 at halftime however have been flummoxed by the Billikens within the second half of a pivotal Atlantic 10 battle. These outcomes function desk setters for a large Saturday across the nation.

As faculty basketball’s common season heads down the stretch, the NCAA Event bubble is popping. Each day is bringing a brand new wrinkle to the image alongside the lower line for the sphere of 68, and the CBS Sports activities Bracketology mannequin stays on high of all of it.

The at-large destiny of a pair dozen groups is up within the air, with large manufacturers comparable to Auburn and UCLA preventing for his or her lives, simply to call a pair. Saturday’s outcomes will convey a brand new shakeup to the image.
Right here is the complete bubble breakdown coming into a busy day.  

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Bubble groups in motion Saturday

Missouri

Saturday at No. 20 Arkansas | 4 p.m. (ESPN)
Getting into the weekend: Final 4 In
Sport standing: Quad 1

Missouri picked up one other “Quad 1A” win on Wednesday towards Vanderbilt, which provides to a tally that additionally consists of victories over Florida and at Kentucky. At 18-8 (8-5 SEC), the Tigers are held again by a mushy nonconference slate that included eight Quad 4 video games. However they’ve clearly demonstrated some high-end potential and will accomplish that once more by taking down Arkansas on the street. If not, an enormous dwelling recreation recreation with Tennessee is up subsequent.

USC

Saturday vs. Oregon | 4 p.m. (FS1)
Getting into the weekend: No. 11 seed
Sport standing: Quad 3

Illinois ran USC off its personal ground on Wednesday evening by a rating of 101-65. Apart from a Jan. 25 win at Wisconsin, which is getting old nicely, the Trojans do not have one other victory over a crew at present anticipated to make the Massive Dance. The standing of main scorer Chad Baker-Mazara is a big storyline right here. The well-traveled wing has missed three straight video games for what’s been termed as a knee pressure. USC ought to beat Oregon with or with out Baker-Mazara, however his standing shall be key transferring ahead.

TCU

Saturday vs. West Virginia | 5 p.m. (Peacock)
Getting into the weekend: Final 4 In
Sport standing: Quad 2

TCU’s roller-coaster resume consists of wins over Florida and Iowa State together with losses to New Orleans, Notre Dame and Utah. Most lately, the Horned Frogs took an 82-71 loss at UCF on Tuesday. That is a non-fatal Quad 1 loss, nevertheless it ratchets up the stress on TCU to carry serve towards West Virginia and Arizona State at dwelling over the subsequent few days. The demonstration of some consistency would seemingly be reassuring to the choice committee because it seeks to decipher a wonky resume.

West Virginia

Saturday at TCU | 5 p.m. (Peacock)
Getting into the weekend: Subsequent 4 Out
Sport standing: Quad 1

Given West Virginia’s controversial exclusion final season, Mountaineers followers are seemingly bracing for influence right here. After a 61-56 Quad 3 dwelling loss to Utah on Wednesday, they need to be. WVU is in desperation mode because it heads to TCU for a must-win recreation. It will take a robust end — assume 4-1 — to get WVU again within the combine heading into the Massive 12 Event. Undersized flamethrower Honor Huff must get on a legendary heater from 3-point vary.

Seton Corridor

Saturday vs. Georgetown | 6 p.m. (FS1)
Getting into the day: Subsequent 4 Out
Sport standing: Quad 3

Seton Corridor’s Wednesday dwelling loss towards DePaul plunged the Pirates into desperation mode. Their resume metrics are hovering within the mid-to-high 50s, and their predictive metrics are in the identical neighborhood. Beating Georgetown will not assist a lot, however shedding to the Hoyas would seemingly be the ultimate straw. Beating UConn on the street on Feb. 28 is Seton Corridor’s finest hope for a life raft.

San Diego State

Saturday at Colorado State | 6 p.m. (CBS Sports activities Community)
Getting into the day: Subsequent 4 Out
Sport standing: Quad 2

You would possibly count on a street recreation towards Colorado State to fall in Quad 1. However as a result of the Rams (16-10, 7-8 Mountain West) are lagging a bit within the NET, this can be a Quad 2 recreation for San Diego State. If the Aztecs care for enterprise right here, they are going to be in place to make a late cost since they’ve seemingly Quad 1 showdowns with Utah State, New Mexico and Boise State on deck.

Cal

Saturday vs. Stanford | 6 p.m. (ACC Community)
Getting into the day: First 4 Out
Sport standing: Quad 2

Beating Stanford is at all times necessary for Cal, however this one has further that means because the Bears are attempting to battle their manner again into area. The house stretch is pretty mild from a scheduling perspective, so Cal must stack some victories if it desires to enter the ACC Event with professional at-large hope.

UCLA

Saturday vs. No. 10 Illinois | 8 p.m. (Fox)
Getting into the weekend: No. 9 seed
Sport standing: Quad 1

UCLA is hanging on to the final No. 9 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology, however the Bruins have little margin for error. The place they sit, the bubble will get steep in a rush. After taking two blowout losses on a visit to Michigan, UCLA now should deal with an Illinois crew that has been hanging out in southern California for a couple of days since drubbing USC 101-65.

New Mexico

Saturday at Fresno State | 8 p.m. (CBS Sports activities Community)
Getting into the weekend: Final 4 In
Sport standing: Quad 3

A possible Quad 1 showdown at Nevada is up subsequent, however New Mexico cannot afford to look forward because it travels to face a Fresno State crew that might play a spoiler function. The Lobos common out at round forty sixth in each resume and predictive metrics, which places them squarely on the bubble. Whereas they’re within the area for now, they might be topic to expulsion if bid thieves emerge.

Auburn

Saturday vs. Kentucky | 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Getting into the weekend: First 4 Out
Sport standing: Quad 1

Enjoying Kentucky at dwelling is true on the brink of what is thought of a Quad 1 recreation. However do not get caught up in that. Auburn has misplaced 5 straight video games and wishes a victory over any person — anyone — to cease the slide and regain traction. The Tigers have respectable metrics, however at 14-12 (5-8 SEC) they are going to be a tricky promote if they’re hovering round .500 on Choice Sunday.

Texas A&M

Saturday at Oklahoma | 8:30 p.m. (SEC Community)
Getting into the weekend: No. 10 seed
Sport standing: Quad 1

Texas A&M squeaked out a must-win dwelling recreation towards Ole Miss on Wednesday to cease a four-game shedding streak. The work continues with back-to-back street video games towards Oklahoma and Arkansas as first-year coach Bucky McMillan seeks to guide an overhauled Aggies roster to the Massive Dance. No matter who the coach is, A&M at all times appears to endure violent swings in league play, and this 12 months isn’t any completely different.

UCF

Saturday at Utah | 9 p.m. (ESPN+)
Getting into the weekend: No. 10 seed
Sport standing: Quad 2

UCF snapped out of a three-game skid by toppling TCU in a double bubble battle on Tuesday. Beating Utah is paramount to maintaining issues on observe for the Knights, who’ve a stable resume however lagging predictive metrics. The Utes simply slayed West Virginia on the street, so they need to have the complete consideration of UCF.

Saint Mary’s

Saturday at Washington State | 10 p.m. (ESPN2)
Getting into the weekend: Final 4 In
Sport standing: Quad 2

Saint Mary’s narrowly averted catastrophe by edging Seattle 72-70 on Wednesday, skirting what would have been its worst loss. Now comes one other tough recreation because the Gaels head to face Washington State. The primary assembly was an 88-82 dwelling win for Saint Mary’s, which wants to remain on observe earlier than closing the common season towards WCC stalwarts Santa Clara and Gonzaga. 

Santa Clara

Saturday at San Francisco | 10 p.m. (CBS Sports activities Community)
Getting into the day: Final 4 In
Sport standing: Quad 2

Santa Clara got here up quick in a possible resume-defining alternative towards Gonzaga final Saturday. One other likelihood for an announcement comes Wednesday at Saint Mary’s, when the Broncos will go for a season sweep of the Gaels. For now, beating San Francisco could be extremely advisable if Santa Clara needs to remain on the appropriate aspect of the bubble heading into the ultimate week of the WCC common season.

Ohio State 

Sunday at No. 15 Michigan State | 1 p.m. (CBS)
Getting into the day: First 4 Out
Sport standing: Quad 1 

Ohio State continues to be looking for its first Quad 1 win. The Buckeyes are 0-8 in Q1, 6-1 in Q2 and spotless throughout Quads 3/4. Their predictive metrics common out round thirty seventh nationally, which is nice. The resume is solely in want of a lift. Clearly, slaying Michigan State contained in the Breslin Heart could be a jolt for his or her at-large hopes. Even when it would not occur, a forthcoming street recreation towards Iowa and a house recreation towards Purdue are nonetheless ready.