This isn't meant to be a prediction of who's on the fence, who's in or out...it is just a commentary on some teams that I think should be given a shot based on what I've seen this season. I'm not talking about resume. This is about the eye test.
In no particular order, these are teams that have flat out impressed me at one time or another and I wish there were a way for all of them to make it.
Also, if UCLA is on the bubble, then I'll add them too. Between Larry Drew II and Kyle Anderson, they are one of my very favorite teams to watch with Shabazz too...
I think OU, after that unlikely win by Texas, is on the bubble given the number of teams piling up around the area. I'm not sure Baylor has much of a chance either, but I think they can be termed as a bubble team since they play KU and Kansas St. Trust me, if they win either one of them, they have a legit shot. Win them both, they're in.
Virginia will be an interesting case study for the committee. I think they should make it in, but their bad losses will keep them from ever feeling safe, no matter how many great wins they rack up.
I think most the teams you listed will make the tourney unolobo, but I'm sure some will miss the cut. I agree with the whole list though, and would actually throw on Arizona St., Air Force, Xavier, Wichita St. (probably back on the bubble with the home Evansville loss), Boise St. and even Wyoming, Alabama, Indiana St., Maryland and Charlotte to a slightly lesser extent.
I think Virginia punched their ticket last night by beating Duke. I don't see any of their losses as too bad: George Mason, Delaware, and ODU. I also think Middle Tennessee St is convincing that they should be considered by smashing a decent Utah St. Given that Cal has both Colorado and Stanford on their schedules, winning those two would put them in too.
I didn't mention Boise State because although I recognize their talent, they have yet to really impress me. I do, however, think they'll win one or two against Colo St, UNLV, and San Diego St and they'll be in too. In my mind, as good as I think Indiana St is, they have played too far below their potential and are decidedly out.
The Old Dominion loss is terrible... They're 4-25 on the season and are 2-15 in a pretty bad Colonial.
Virginia is like a somewhat more extreme version of 2011 Alabama. Their wins are probably a bit better; their losses are probably a bit worse. Their RPI should be more acceptable than Alabama's was; though, so that might be enough to get them in. I think they should make it in, but they're far from a lock.
The Old Dominion loss is terrible... They're 4-25 on the season and are 2-15 in a pretty bad Colonial.
Right. The 2-pt loss to ODU was a horrendous loss. I guess I meant that those losses balance out to me. Wins against 4 (and as many as maybe 6) is enough with Duke, who owns the #1 RPI. UNC and Wisconsin wins are looking better and better. Again, lock is a relative term, right? Creighton was a "lock," but now, not so much. The point is that today...the Cavs are in...and I think they pass the eye test.
