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College Basketball Bubble Watch

CBSSports.com bracketologist Jerry Palm assesses the résumés of teams that may be sweating it out until Selection Sunday. For more from Jerry Palm, check him out on Twitter: @jppalmCBS | Bracketology Blog

  • Temple
    (24-10, 11-5, 5th ATL10 ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5912/42 | SOS/Rank: 0.5531/62
    Temple logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 3-3 1-0 6-3 6-2 7-1
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Indiana 52-58 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Temple beat both Syracuse and Villanova away from home, but now has three head-scratching home losses, most recently to Duquesne. They have won nine of ten (that Duquesne game the only loss) though, including the season-ender vs VCU.
    Boise State
    (21-11, 9-7, 5th MWC ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5933/41 | SOS/Rank: 0.5563/53
    Boise State logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 3-5 1-2 4-1 7-2 4-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. La Salle 71-80 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    The Broncos have been taking care of business at home lately with wins over Colorado State, UNLV and San Diego State. They lost to the Aztecs again to open the Mountain West tournament.
    Iowa State
    (23-12, 11-7, 4th BIG12 ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5903/45 | SOS/Rank: 0.5613/43
    Iowa State logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 1-5 3-3 4-1 6-1 8-1
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Ohio State 75-78 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    The Cyclones still have a bad record against good teams and are mostly a home court hero, but they have won two of their last three road games. They beat Oklahoma in the conference tournament opener for their best away from home win of the year.
    California
    (21-12, 12-6, 4th PAC12 ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5775/53 | SOS/Rank: 0.5631/37
    California logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 1-2 4-3 2-5 9-1 4-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Syracuse 60-66 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Cal doesn't have a great record against better teams and took its first bad loss of the season in the Pac-12 tournament against Utah. They have shown an ability to win away from home though, so they should be safe.
  • St. Mary's
    (28-7, 14-2, 2nd WCC ) | RPI/Rank: 0.6048/29 | SOS/Rank: 0.5369/96
    St. Mary's logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 1-3 0-0 6-2 9-1 10-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Memphis 52-54 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    The Gaels got a huge win over Creighton to boost their at-large chances. They lost all three of their games to Gonzaga by double digits, but dominated the rest of the league. For what that's worth.
    Wichita State
    (30-9, 12-6, 2nd MVC ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5960/37 | SOS/Rank: 0.5379/91
    Wichita State logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 2-2 1-0 5-3 11-3 7-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Louisville 68-72 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    The Shockers won at VCU, and beat Creighton one out of three times, but they also have a couple bad losses, most recently at home against Evansville.
    Oklahoma
    (20-12, 11-7, 5th BIG12 ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5946/39 | SOS/Rank: 0.5740/23
    Oklahoma logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 1-4 2-3 5-2 7-1 5-1
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. San Diego State 55-70 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    The Sooners have wins over Kansas and Oklahoma State at home and are about .500 against the top 100. Their two most recent losses though are their worst losses of the season, including a real howler at TCU. They lost the rubber match with Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament.
    La Salle
    (24-10, 11-5, 4th ATL10 ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5900/46 | SOS/Rank: 0.5468/77
    La Salle logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 2-3 0-1 4-4 9-1 6-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Wichita State 58-72 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    The Explorers are enjoying the benefits of a good week that saw them beat Butler at home and win at VCU. Unfortunately, that may not be enough in the end.
    Villanova
    (20-14, 10-8, 8th BIGE ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5783/52 | SOS/Rank: 0.5743/22
    Villanova logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 4-2 1-6 3-3 6-1 5-1
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. North Carolina 71-78 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Villanova let a great chance get away at Pitt. They knocked off Georgetown at home though. The Hoyas join Louisville, Marquette and Syracuse as teams the Wildcats beat at home. They didn't look good against Louisville in the Big East tournament.
    Massachusetts
    (21-12, 9-7, 6th ATL10 ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5747/56 | SOS/Rank: 0.5490/72
    Massachusetts logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 0-5 2-2 6-2 5-2 8-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Stony Brook 58-71 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    The Minutemen picked up a big win over Temple in the A-10 tournament. They also won on the road at La Salle earlier. Not many teams have good wins away from home, however they also lost to fellow bubbler Tennessee on a neutral floor.
    Kentucky
    (21-12, 12-6, 4th SEC ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5735/57 | SOS/Rank: 0.5503/70
    Kentucky logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 1-3 2-1 3-4 6-3 9-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Robert Morris 57-59 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Kentucky picked up a big win at Florida to end the regular season. I said when Nerlens Noel got hurt that the Wildcats would probably have to do better without him than they did with him. They have picked up their two best wins of the year since then, but they have not done well away from home at all. They looked especially bad in their SEC tournament loss to Vandy.
    Tennessee
    (20-13, 11-7, 6th SEC ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5688/59 | SOS/Rank: 0.5544/58
    Tennessee logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 1-2 2-3 5-5 4-2 8-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Mercer 67-75 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Tennessee has the best collection of wins among the SEC bubblers and the least offensive losses. However, they lost twice to Ole Miss and two of three to Alabama.
    Alabama
    (23-13, 12-6, 3rd SEC ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5655/60 | SOS/Rank: 0.5469/76
    Alabama logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 0-3 0-3 7-2 7-3 6-1
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Maryland 57-58 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Alabama has four bad losses, three at home, and has beaten a couple bubble teams, but nobody that's a sure thing. Also, most of their best work has been done at home. That's a lot to fix. They blew a great chance to fix some of that when they let a second half lead get away from them at Florida. The Tide gets another shot at Florida today.
  • Middle Tenn State
    (28-6, 19-1, 1st BELT East) | RPI/Rank: 0.6051/28 | SOS/Rank: 0.5159/129
    Middle Tenn State logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 0-2 1-1 0-0 15-2 12-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. St. Mary's 54-67 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Middle Tennessee took a bad loss to FIU in the Sun Belt semis. The Blue Raiders have just one top 100 RPI win, at home vs Ole Miss. No team has received an at-large bid with fewer than three top 100 wins. The media is campaigning hard for them, but this is not the kind of team that usually gets picked.
    Southern Miss
    (27-10, 12-4, 2nd USA ) | RPI/Rank: 0.6039/30 | SOS/Rank: 0.5472/74
    Southern Miss logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 0-4 0-1 3-2 13-1 7-1
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Brigham Young 62-79 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    USM has a nice RPI with nothing behind it. They have three top 100 wins, two of them between 95-100, two bad losses, most recently at Marshall. It's hard to see a case for them as an at-large.
    Charlotte
    (21-12, 8-8, 8th ATL10 ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5586/68 | SOS/Rank: 0.5312/104
    Charlotte logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 1-4 1-2 5-2 4-3 10-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Providence 66-75 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    I can't seem to get rid of these guys. After three straight blowout losses, they came back to beat St. Joseph's. They have a win at Butler, which is one of the better road wins anyone on this page has.
    Maryland
    (25-13, 8-10, 7th ACC ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5576/71 | SOS/Rank: 0.5376/92
    Maryland logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 2-5 1-0 1-5 12-2 6-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Iowa 60-71 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Welcome back to the bubble, Terps. The win over Duke was their best of the year and first of four top 100 RPI wins away from home. That's probably not quite enough.
    Virginia
    (23-12, 11-7, 5th ACC ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5549/76 | SOS/Rank: 0.5244/117
    Virginia logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 2-2 2-1 4-1 7-6 6-1
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Iowa 64-75 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    The Cavs have some nice wins, especially Duke at home and at Wisconsin, but some bigger negatives. They have seven bad losses, including one to 300+ RPI Old Dominion. Nobody has ever received an at-large bid with that many. They also played a bad non-conference schedule and are bad away from home. Teams with their positives get left out sometimes, but teams with any one of their negatives rarely get in.
    Iowa
    (25-13, 9-9, 6th BIG10 ) | RPI/Rank: 0.5525/81 | SOS/Rank: 0.5313/103
    Iowa logo Opponent's CBSSports.com RPI Rank No. 1-25 No. 26-50 No. 51-100 No. 101-200 No. 201+
    W-L Record vs. Ranked Teams 0-6 4-3 1-0 9-3 7-0
    Last Game Next Game
    Lost vs. Baylor 54-74 vs. -NA-,
    Outlook
    Like their in-state rival Iowa State, the Hawkeyes are a home-court hero. They have a bad record against good teams, with all the wins at home, and three bad losses. They also have the worst non-conference schedule of anyone on this list.
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