With fewer than seven weeks to go till Selection Sunday for the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the midpoint of school basketball’s common season has flown by. Résumés are being cemented, however there may be nonetheless time for some teams outdoors the NCAA Tournament image to show issues round and attain the Big Dance.
Every group that qualifies for its convention match can have an opportunity to safe an computerized bid, and people with a robust regular-season finish can play their way in to at-large candidacy. This time final yr, Virginia Tech was simply 10-10 (2-7 ACC) and clearly on the flawed facet of the bubble. But the Hokies received 9 of their final 11 regular-season video games, after which received 4 video games in 4 days on the ACC Tournament to succeed in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed.
As it so occurs, the Hokies discover themselves in an analogous scenario this season by needing an enormous finish to make the 68-team subject. Plenty of different teams with lofty preseason aspirations additionally discover themselves firmly on the flawed facet of the bubble as February inches nearer.
For this week’s version of the Dribble Handoff, our writers are selecting the teams at the moment outdoors of CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm’s projected NCAA Tournament subject who they imagine will wind enjoying within the Big Dance.
Texas A&M is not even considered one of Jerry Palm’s First Four Out, which is completely comprehensible. I did not write that to spotlight a perceived error as a lot as I wrote it for instance simply how a lot work the Aggies must do.
They’re clearly headed in the correct route, although. After a 6-5 begin that includes a number of troubling losses, Texas A&M has gone 7-1 in its previous eight video games with the lone loss coming at Kentucky. The Aggies carried out like a top-10 group in that eight-game stretch, in accordance with BartTorvik.com. So they’re now 3-4 within the first two quadrants, with one further loss falling in Quadrant 3 (Murray State) and one other falling in Quadrant 4 (Wofford).
That’s not nice; nevertheless, eight of Texas A&M’s ultimate 12 regular-season video games might be Quadrant 1 contests based mostly on the present NET rankings. If the Aggies proceed their high-level play from latest weeks, they need to win sufficient of these Quad-1 video games to make the NCAA Tournament for the primary time below Buzz Williams. — Gary Parrish
Here’s what I’ve confidence in: The power of the Big 12. The league charges streets forward of all different conferences in each metric; it’s inarguable that this league is No. 1. There is a chasm between the highest six (choose your order) of Iowa State, Texas, Kansas State, Kansas, TCU and Baylor. Any of these teams may win the league, and the opposite 4 are a degree or two beneath.
That stated, I determine considered one of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Texas Tech goes to search out an at-large profile. TTU remains to be winless within the league; it isn’t dancing this season. West Virginia is 1-6 within the Big 12 and 11-8 total. Not a lot better. The Oklahoma faculties are each 11-9 and shaky. The Cowboys do have a top-10 protection within the nation, nevertheless. They personal a win over Iowa State and have extra dwelling video games than street video games remaining. The Quad 1 victories are there. Even if barely, even when it means going to Dayton for the First Four, I’ll trip with the Pokes. — Matt Norlander
Virginia Tech
No group below the ACC’s present configuration has began 1-7 in league play and gone on to earn an at-large bid within the NCAA Tournament. That’s practically a decade of outcomes post-realignment suggesting such gradual begins are dying knells for March Madness hopes. Virginia Tech getting into the 68-team subject would, by trendy requirements, be unprecedented. But within the Hokies I imagine.
They ended a seven-game skid in league play with a win over Duke at dwelling, however dig a bit deeper and the shedding streak is not as dangerous because it appears. One loss got here in additional time, three have been by one possession, one was by a single level, and all of them have been by 10 factors or fewer.
This group is near turning a nook. It’s forty ninth within the NET, forty sixth at KenPom and forty sixth at BartTorvik — in the identical neighborhood as projected NCAA Tournament teams. With a 2-7 ACC document and the losses having already collected, Virginia Tech’s margin for error is slim. In a yr when the league is traditionally down dangerous, nevertheless, this group may do wonders if it is even marginally higher shifting ahead.
The schedule units up properly down the stretch, and given the way Mike Young’s membership has dealt with adversity, I’m shopping for low whereas I can. Keep in thoughts: Virginia Tech opened up ACC play 2-7 final yr earlier than ending 11-9 within the common season and profitable the ACC Tournament outright to finally earn an 11-seed. Don’t write this program off too quickly. — Kyle Boone
At 14-7 (7-3 Pac-12), Utah is rounding into type after sweeping the Washington faculties in convincing vogue. The Utes are simply 4-7 vs. Quads 1 and a couple of however an ideal 10-0 vs. Quads 3 and 4. Five of their ultimate 10 video games are of the Quad 1 selection, giving them ample alternative to shine their résumé. Senior huge man Branden Carlson is enjoying the very best basketball of his profession, averaging 17 factors and seven.6 rebounds on 56.8% capturing from the ground. He’s additionally blocking 2.3 photographs per recreation and capturing 43.8% from past the arc on 3.2 makes an attempt per recreation, which is a superb determine for a 7-footer.
Carlson’s rim safety is among the explanation why Utah’s protection is among the many finest within the nation. Opponents shoot simply 37.4% from the ground towards the Utes and solely 28% from past the arc. Both marks are among the many high 10 nationally, and Utah holds foes to only 62.3 factors per recreation, which is twenty eighth within the nation.
Utah’s offense just isn’t elite, however the Utes shot higher than 50% from the ground in their blowout wins over Washington State and Washington final week. If these performances marked a turning level for the offense, then this group will discover itself on the correct facet of the projected bubble briefly order. — David Cobb
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