There are two games left in the college regular season, and while the Big 12 bubble teams went 4-0 on Saturday, there is still a lot of work left for three of the four teams to do to make March Madness, at least according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi.
Lunardi dropped an updated Bracketology late on Saturday night following the February 28th games, and while TCU, who beat Kansas State, moved up from the “Last Four In” to the “Last Four Byes”, the other three Big 12 teams still on the bubble did not budge from their spot. But what about the rest?
Here’s a look at Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, and we will then look at the three Big 12 teams on the bubble.
Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati started the game as the 8th team “out” of the NCAA Tournament, per Lunardi, in their “Next Four Out”. After beating Oklahoma State, the Bearcats moved up to the 7th team out, remaining in the “Next Four Out” category. They moved up one slot, but stayed in the same group.
The Bearcats have won five of their last six games, with two games remaining at home vs. BYU and on the road at TCU. No doubt they need to win out, and probably pick off at least two games in Kansas City at the Big 12 Tournament to feel good on Selection Sunday.
West Virginia Mountaineers
The Mountaineers were in the “Next, Next Four Out”, as the second team in that category to start the day. After their upset win over BYU, they moved up one position to the top team in the “Next, Next Four Out”. That basically makes them the 9th team outside the NCAA Tournament.
The Mountaineers are now 17-12 overall and 8-8 in the league, snapping a three-game losing streak, which may have been too much to overcome. Next up is a road trip to Kansas State followed by next Saturday’s final regular season game at home against UCF. They must win out, and then make a run in Kansas City to have any chance.
Baylor Bears
Baylor did pick up a win on the road against UCF, an NCAA Tournament Team, but Joe Lunardi did not move them off of their final spot in the “Next, Next Four Out”, meaning they’re the 12th team outside the Tournament right now. They’re 5-11 in Big 12 play, so it’s kind of a miracle they’re even in this spot, but they are.
The Bears still have a lot of work to do, and need to win next week at Houston to keep any hope alive. That game is followed by a home game vs. Utah next Saturday. And even then, is it enough? Probably not, without at least making it to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals next Friday.
