Sunday, February 5, 2017

College Basketball Tournament Watch - 5 Feb

For the second week in a row, the majority of the top 10 lost this week, many of them by large margins or to unranked teams, but there were still plenty of teams that took care of business. This week I have added the Definitely In category, and have broken down the good wins and losses for each of those teams, along with their bad losses, if they have any. Here is my current breakdown of tournament probability by conference, with odds of winning upcoming games in parentheses, and teams that moved up or down in italics:

American

Probably In

Cincinnati - UCF (87.8%)
SMU - @ Temple (63.5%)

Good Chance

Houston - @ Tulane (80.0%), @ Tulsa (54.9%)

Out

Memphis

Cincinnati and SMU should stay where they are for another week, barring a blowout loss for either. Houston probably needs to win both of its games to keep its spot on he good side.

Atlantic 10

Good Chance

Dayton - Saint Joseph's (90.9%), @ Rhode Island (37.7%)
VCU - @ George Washington (61.2%), Davidson (75.9%)
Rhode Island - @ Massachusetts (56.7%), Dayton (62.3%)

Dayton could solidify its chances with a win at Rhode Island, but more likely these same three teams will still keep riding the good side of the bubble for now.

ACC

Definitely In

Louisville
Good Wins: vs Wichita State, Purdue, Kentucky, vs Indiana, Duke, Clemson
Good Losses: vs Baylor, Virginia, @ Notre Dame, @ Florida State
Bad Losses: None

Probably In

North Carolina - Notre Dame (78.7%), @ Duke (39.7%)
Florida State - Clemson (76.0%), NC State (91.2%), @ Notre Dame (41.1%)
Virginia - Louisville (63.0%)
Duke - North Carolina (60.3%), Clemson (78.7%)

Solid Chance

Notre Dame - @ North Carolina (21.3%), Wake Forest (69.4%), Florida State (58.9%)

Good Chance

Syracuse - @ Clemson (29.5%), @ Pittsburgh (42.4%)
Miami (FL) - Virginia Tech (69.4%), @ Louisville (10.6%)
Wake Forest - @ Notre Dame (30.6%), NC State (82.6%)
Clemson - @ Florida State (24.0%), Syracuse (70.5%), @ Duke (21.3%)

Still a Chance

Virginia Tech - @ Miami (FL) (30.6%)

Louisville has been great, with nothing even close to a bad loss so far. North Carolina and Virginia could both lock down their spots this week against Duke and Louisville. Wake Forest and Clemson also have great opportunities to move up with an upset or two, while Notre Dame will probably need to win two or even all three this week to rise. A win for Virginia Tech could get them back on the good side, but it could hurt Miami at the same time.

Big 12

Definitely In

West Virginia
Good Wins: @ Virginia, @ Oklahoma State, TCU, Baylor, Kansas, @ Iowa State
Good Losses: @ Kansas State, Oklahoma State
Bad Losses: vs Temple, @ Texas Tech, Oklahoma

Probably In

Kansas - @ Kansas State (46.6%), @ Texas Tech (56.4%)
Baylor - @ Oklahoma State (40.6%), TCU (81.1%)

Solid Chance

Iowa State - @ Texas (55.0%), Oklahoma (85.3%)
Kansas State - Kansas (53.4%), @ West Virginia (16.3%)
Oklahoma State - Baylor (59.4%), Texas (84.6%)

Good Chance

TCU - Texas Tech (68.1%), @ Baylor (18.9%)

Still a Chance

Texas Tech - @ TCU (31.9%), Kansas (43.6%)

Out

Texas

West Virginia has lost a few games that don't make sense, but they have beaten Kansas, Baylor, and Virginia, all current top 10 teams, so they won't be missing out in March. Kansas and Baylor could be joining the Mountaineers next week, especially if they win their tough road games. Oklahoma State could move up a notch as well if they can take out Baylor right after beating West Virginia. TCU and Texas Tech are both in need of big wins, and they both have the chance this week, so they need to take advantage.

Big East

Probably In

Villanova - Georgetown (91.5%), @ Xavier (51.6%)

Solid Chance

Xavier - DePaul (98.3%), Villanova (48.4%)
Creighton - @ DePaul (75.9%)
Butler - @ Marquette (42.7%), @ Providence (52.0%)

Good Chance

Marquette - Butler (57.3%), @ Georgetown (42.3%)

Still a Chance

Seton Hall - Providence (69.6%), @ St. John's (46.0%)
Providence - @ Seton Hall (30.4%), Butler (48.0%)
Georgetown - @ Villanova (8.5%), Marquette (57.7%)

Beating Xavier should be enough for Villanova to punch their ticket. Creighton and Butler are both in line to move up, but they can't lose this week or they will be stuck in the same place again. Seton Hall could join Marquette on the good side of the bubble with a pair of wins this week, but they could knock Providence out in the process.

Big Ten

Probably In

Wisconsin - Indiana (81.3%), @ Nebraska (68.7%)
Purdue - @ Indiana (53.5%)

Solid Chance

Northwestern - Illinois (76.3%)

Good Chance

Maryland - @ Penn State (52.3%), Ohio State (73.0%)
Minnesota - Iowa (77.7%), @ Rutgers (63.5%)
Indiana - @ Wisconsin (18.7%), Purdue (46.5%)
Michigan - Michigan State (67.7%)

Still a Chance

Michigan State - @ Michigan (32.3%), Iowa (72.3%)
Ohio State - Rutgers (83.9%), @ Maryland (27.0%)
Illinois - @ Northwestern (23.7%), Penn State (73.8%)

Wisconsin and Purdue both have a shot at locking in this week, but it's most likely one more week for both. Indiana has the most to gain this week, with games against the top 2 teams in the conference. Meanwhile, Illinois might need to beat Northwestern just to stay alive.

Missouri Valley

Probably In

Wichita State - Missouri State (94.1%)

Still a Chance

Illinois State - @ Drake (70.3%), Bradley (98.3%)

Wichita State probably made it yesterday with their blowout of Illinois State, the previous conference leader. Illinois State probably needs to win the rest of their games and reach the final of the conference tournament to make it now without the conference title.

Pac 12

Probably In

UCLA - Oregon (70.1%)

Solid Chance

Arizona - Stanford (92.6%), California (82.2%)
Oregon - @ UCLA (29.9%), @ USC (52.4%)

Good Chance

Utah - Washington State (98.7%), Washington (89.6%)

Still a Chance

USC - Oregon State (99.6%), Oregon (47.6%)
California - Colorado (70.6%), @ Arizona State (49.4%), @ Arizona (17.8%)

If they don't lose this week, Arizona should move up a notch, while Oregon could move up even with a loss, but probably not two. Utah absolutely cannot lose this week, as they are right on the edge as it is. USC has a huge opportunity against Oregon, while Cal probably needs to win all 3 just to stay alive, which is tough with Arizona on the road to finish the week.

SEC

Probably In

Kentucky - LSU (99.9%), @ Alabama (75.4%)
Florida - @ Georgia (61.9%), Texas A&M (93.3%)

Solid Chance

South Carolina - Alabama (85.8%), @ Mississippi State (58.0%)

Good Chance

Tennessee - Ole Miss (75.2%), Georgia (67.9%)

Still a Chance

Arkansas - Vanderbilt (68.1%), @ LSU (66.3%)
Georgia - Florida (38.1%), @ Tennessee (32.1%)
Texas A&M - Missouri (88.4%), @ Florida (6.7%)
Vanderbilt - @ Arkansas (31.9%), @ Missouri (63.6%)

Kentucky should make it official next week, though I've said that about them the last 2 weeks, and they've lost the big games they needed. Florida should be in as well next week, although losing at Georgia could hold them back for one week. Texas A&M needs to beat Florida on the road, which probably won't happen, but I'll keep them on there for now. Georgia and Tennessee could switch places if the Bulldogs win on the road this week.

Southern

Still a Chance

Furman - Chattanooga (65.2%), Samford (79.4%)
East Tennessee State - @ Wofford (50.7%), The Citadel (96.4%), Mercer (81.8%)
Chattanooga - @ Furman (34.8%), @ Wofford (47.9%)

These three teams would each need to win the rest of their games and then lose the conference title game to another of these teams just to be considered, but each is good enough that it could happen. One will lose this week for sure, and it will probably be the end for that team's at-large hopes. 

West Coast

Definitely In

Gonzaga
Good Wins: vs Florida, vs Iowa State, vs Arizona, vs Tennessee, Saint Mary's
Good Losses: None
Bad Losses: None


Solid Chance

Saint Mary's - Portland (99.9%), Gonzaga (45.5%)

Out

BYU

Gonzaga still hasn't lost, and those wins against Florida, Arizona, and Iowa State are looking pretty good right now. Saint Mary's would move up a line if they knock off the Zags, but even if they are destroyed, I don't see them missing the tournament without a couple of horrible conference losses.

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