bierce

I don't think we're in the tournament just yet. 18 brackets updated this morning. Texas and Xavier are each on 11 and would be first out/last in. Indiana and UNC are each on more. Boise State could pick up a lot of votes if it beats UNM today.

I agree with that being the likely outcome at this point. I just don't make it a certainty. And I won't be surprised if it is left off some brackets that update today and tomorrow.

If Texas wins today, then it is definitely in and maybe even skipping the play in game. Right now, Texas is on the cusp, so we are very much at risk of missing out, particularly if there are a couple of dance crashers. Other games that matter today (bubble team boldfaced): St. Bonaventure/VCU This game is a bit of an oddity. VCU might get passed over if it loses this early due to having just 1 q1 win (and haviing that only because it and Dayton each won at the other's place), and the A-10 would then be limited to just the tournament champ. But I think the safest thing is for VCU to win the conference tournament so there is no risk of the A-10 getting two teams in. Wichita State/Memphis Same rationale as above. Rest of AAC won't get in. Memphis probably will due to 6-1 q1, 5-1 q2. UNC/Duke Duke will be without Cooper Flagg. If UNC falls to 1-12 in q1, then it would be extremely hard to justify a bid. St. Joe's/Dayton Dayton has received a vote or two of late. Still just 67 NET, but had good OOC wins over UConn, Marquette, and Northwestern. UC Santa Barbara/UC San Diego See comments about VCU. Boise State/New Mexico I really don't understand why Boise State and New Mexico are adjacent in NET rankings. Neither do the bracketsessed. UNM is nearly unanimously placed on the 9 line. Boise State is still first four out, but when the brackets update today to reflect Indiana, Xavier, SDSU, and OU losses, it might be on as many brackets as not. Cal Poly/UC Irvine UC Irvine also has received few votes, but I don't give it much chance if it doesn't win the autobid. Utah State/Colorado State Colorado State has a single vote going into this morning. I doubt beating Nevada gave it much of a bump. Long odds to get in due to poor OOC showing. Utah State seemed like a cert about two weeks ago, but losing to Boise State and Colorado State by a combined 44 points has dropped it to a 10 seed. It could play its way out with another big loss.

Because why? Because NET 43? Because 7-11 in q1 to our 7-10? Because it has a q3 loss? OU has a very good argument for being included, but calling it a lock at this point is inaccurate. If UNC beats a Cooper Flagg-less Duke tomorrow, and if Boise State can win another game, then OU might be on the outside again.

Maybe now we are after Kentucky went the length of the floor to hit the game winner with 0.5 seconds left. What a great day for Texas.

Wow, Kentucky. Two turnovers in the last 20 seconds to let OU take a 1 point lead with 5.1 seconds left.

BTW, if we are left out, then it will be because we scheduled 6 absolute dogs in our non-conference schedule. That was an egregious mistake, and we should never do that again.

If OU loses tonight, then I think we do. If OU wins, then I'm not sure. We have a better claim than Indiana, tOSU, Xavier, the fourth MWC team, and maybe even Baylor at this point. 7 q1 wins are hard to argue with. Texas and OU are the only teams with 7 q1 wins at risk of missing the tournament. Just to be safe, I'm rooting for Kentucky all the way tonight.

It isn't necessarily in the field yet. It was still out according to the matrix this morning. And it is 7-0 in q2 and +5 in q1-g3, and it had very close losses to Michigan State and Kansas, so it has an argument. Just like Texas has an argument despite losing 4 or 5 q2 games depending on whether UConn finishes outside the top 30. The bubble is just that f'ing weak this year. Who do you want to put over UNC? OU? Xavier? Boise State? Indiana? All have just as many warts if not more.

Clemson got away with it. SMU with a failed possession, and Clemson hit ft to clinch it. SMU finishes the year with 23 wins and not a single q1 win. SMU was a complete fraud all seasons. Zero wins against against the field.

I will never understand why a team that has to shoot with at least 15 second left on the game clock will run the entire shot clock down without trying to run some offense to get an easy basket instead of chucking a rock at the end of the shot clock. Brad Brownell, boo on you.

Purdue took out USC, so the Big Ten will have no dance crashers. Now if only Clemson will finish off SMU.

What else is new? Dan Hurley getting a technical.

Dear Richard Pitino, We only now understand how very, very, very good you were for us. Will you please please please please please please forgive us and come back? No? Well, just thought we should ask. Sincerely, a lot of unGolden gophers.

Creighton down 11 with 2:12 to go in regulation winds up winning in 2OT against DePaul. If UConn can beat Nova in the upcoming game at MSG, then we can eliminate the Big East from conferences that could have a dance crasher.

Big congrats to the team for pulling this one out after falling behind by 5 in the second OT. I thought we were toast after Mark fouled out in the 2nd OT by bumping Taylor in the same spot Shed did near the end of regulation about 30 feet from the basket. I mean, damn guys. He was 15/16 from the line, so wtf? But do we really need to turn a thread congratulating the team for a great win into a debate about Terry, even if it was kind of invited by the OP? How about let us all throw up a Hook 'em and root for a win tomorrow against a very well rested Tennessee team?

Baylor almost pulled it out. Tech missed a pair of ft with 5.1 seconds left, Baylor ran down, but it was way off with a running three at the buzzer. Tech wins 76-74. Baylor's record isn't very good. It is 5-12 in q1 games, 6-1 in q2, but it has a q3 loss. It is only 3-11 against Pomeroy top 50.

Boise State won by 10. San Diego State no longer looks like a certain bid winner. And could even Baylor be in trouble? It's going down hard against Tech. Iowa is getting clobbered by Illinois. If Purdue can dispatch USC later tonight, then the Big Ten will have no dance crashers.

If the story about preseason practices having a lot of Mark bringing up the ball and triggering the offense, then our early season troubles become a lot more understandable.

Good day just became terrific with Shedrick hitting 10/10 from the line to help us win in double OT. I thought we were doomed when Mark fouled out, but bring on Tennessee. Now, go Kentucky. We may have already passed Indiana, Xavier, and Ohio State, but let's pass OU while we're at it today. Boise State and SDSU are in a one point game midway through the second half.

Marquette pulled it out, so this has been a very good day so far. Just need Texas to play well in the second half and hang on to win.

Xavier up 10 at the half. Thanks, Shaka.

Mississippi woke up, forced a tie with a three point play with 20 seconds to go, Arky missed a pair of ft, and Pedulla hit a three with 1.7 seconds to win it. Arky now back to the 11 line.

Mississippi has been outscored 34-11 over the last 11:50.

Indiana crumbling late. Oregon on a 9-0 run to take a 65-54 lead with 2:13 left. IU finally got a score. 65-56 with 1:57 left. Oregon now out of timeouts. Arky down 8 at the half. Beard is somewhat notorious for tanking conference tournaments, btw.