The Dreaded Bubble, Part I
Remember, however, that some of the season remains, as do the conference tournaments. In these remaining games, a Big East team such as Pittsburgh will be playing high-RPI Big East conference teams, while a mid-level team such as Butler will face weak lower-level teams. A Pittsburgh is thus likely to gain quite a bit in the RPI over the coming weeks. Do not forget, however, that the committee also looks at a team's record over its last ten games. Pittsburgh will be facing tough opponents.
Given these general guidelines, let us take a look at who may make the tournament. There are two additional facts that should be kept in mind if your team is "on the bubble": First, no team with an RPI lower than #42 made the tournament with an at-large bid last year; Second, if your team is from a power conference, root for the conference leaders in the mid-level conferences to win their conference tournament and the automatic bid. Otherwise, those conference leaders will join the group of teams competing for at-large bids and possibly knock-out your team.
America East
In: Boston University
Only the conference champion will make it from this conference, where regular season leader Boston University "boasts" the conference-high RPI of #116.
ACC
In: Duke, Wake Forest, Maryland
Bubble: Virginia, North Carolina, NC State, Clemson, Georgia Tech
The ACC is uncharacteristically mired in mediocrity. Duke and Wake Forest are definitely in, with RPIs of #10 and #12, respectively. Maryland is also a lock, although its RPI is #32, just below Arizona State and Auburn, not normally powerhouses. Conceivably, this could be the year that the ACC takes only three teams to the tournament. The only other ACC team with an RPI higher than last year's magical cut-off of #42 is North Carolina at #39. With its below .500 conference record and tough games remaining against Maryland, Wake Forest, and Duke it seems unlikely that the Tar Heels will go the big dance. Were they to sweep those games however, they would be a lock (despite their poor overall record) as their RPI would be quite high. The next highest RPI in the conference belongs to Virginia at #50, who is below .500 in conference play as well. NC State hovers at RPI #66, just below Georgia Tech at #63 and above Florida State at #67. The Wolfpack need a solid run at the end of the year and in the conference tournament.
Latest Articles