Bubble Teams Trying to Impress NCAA Selection Committee

Bubbles will burst in the NCAA long before March Madness’ Selection Sunday rolls around. With conference schedules in full flight, the time is now for teams to make their biggest arguments for why they should be chosen.

At the same time, others will be haunted by what could have been during their push to the end of the regular season.

Minnesota is a fine example. The Golden Gophers loss to Wisconsin 64-57 was not a do or die game for them, but they cannot rest on their laurels quite yet.

Since the Gophers defeated Wisconsin, then No. 9, at home on January 22, they have lost four of five. The Gophers have just six games remaining in the regular season including games against Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan. That means there is a great deal of work to do still, if they hope to have their named called on Selection Sunday.

Colorado will be given credit for its fine play early this season including its big win against Kansas. However, the record for the Buffaloes since Spencer Dinwiddie their senior guard was lost for the season to a knee injury, will also be examined.

Colorado lost a good opportunity to help themselves when they lost to UCLA. A number of injuries seem to have caught up with Colorado. Two other regular players were sidelined in their loss to UCLA.

The Buffaloes loss against the Bruins ended a winning streak of three games. Colorado will end their regular season with four of six games on the road, with the last game of the season, where it could make some points with selection members, against Arizona, currently No. 3 in the nation.

Both Arkansas and Missouri were in similar positions entering their game on Thursday. Missouri defeated Arkansas by the slimmest of margins 86-85, with Jabari Brown leading the way with 25 points, including a jump hook to win the game.

The Razorbacks are only 1-5 this season on the road, but will have LSU at home prior to traveling to Kentucky in an attempt to make their bid for selection stronger.

The Tigers hope to keep things moving forward when they play Tennessee on Saturday.

St. John’s may have been Thursday’s biggest winner by simply not suffering a loss. The Red Storm have stormed their way into a possible selection  to the Big Dance, by winning seven of their last eight games overall with their only blemish a 63-60 loss to Creighton.

The Red Storm defeated Seton Hall 68-67 and is now up to .500 in the Big East. If they can continue winning as the season winds down, the selection committee will have to lean their way.

Only a month remains before the postseason conference tournaments take hold and March Madness convenes, but for many teams their only worry is their next opponent and pleasing the selection committee.