It is three weeks from Selection Sunday. Most of the smaller conferences have only one week left in their regular seasons, while the majors all have two. Time is running out for these teams to do what it takes to impress the selection committee and possibly secure an at-large bid if it needs one.
An important thing to keep in mind as you follow the hopes of these bubble teams is that the season does not end with the schedule you see remaining. Conference tournaments matters and every at-large team will have lost its final game of the season.
Sundayâs âDouble-bubbleâ game
Syracuse Orange at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Georgia Tech 71 Syracuse 65
Georgia Tech picked up a win that saved its season for now. There is still plenty of work to do for the 15-11 Yellow Jackets. At a minimum, they will need to win the rest of their home games to give themselves a chance entering the ACC tournament. Today was the most difficult of Techâs remaining home games. Obviously, if they can steal one on the road, so much the better.
The task for Syracuse is much harder. The Orange will have to win at least two of their last three to have any realistic shot at an at-large bid. The question is whether winning two of their last three is realistic. That means either beating Duke at home or Louisville on the road. Syracuse was in a position a few weeks ago where they had to get hot and stay hot. They got hot, but went cold again. They are pretty much done.
Michigan Wolverines
- Minnesota 83 Michigan 78, OT
Michigan came close, but fell short against the Gophers. The Wolverines should not be discouraged, though. That was the toughest of their remaining road games: They might need to win two of their last three against Rutgers, Northwestern and Nebraska. They also have a home game with Purdue. Michigan is looking to split the last four games.
Illinois State Redbirds
- Illinois State 65 Loyola-Chicago 63
Illinois State got all it wanted from Loyola, but held on for an important victory. The Redbirds already have a couple of bad losses and cannot take another one if the harbor any at-large hopes. ISU is back in a tie with Wichita State in the Missouri Valley. The Shockers are the only team Illinois State can afford to lose to at this point. And vice versa.
