It turned out to be a pretty tame weekend in College Basketball, which might not be good to the overall picture. The Bubble picture remains muddled and the expansion of the field from 65 to 68 might seem like a bad idea this year.
Weekend's Biggest Winners
Wisconsin gets the weekend award for best win, taking down previously unbeaten Ohio State at the Kohl Center on Saturday. It was an impressive win, but it is just one win (and once again at home) and thus we must avoid an overreaction. Wisconsin travels to Purdue this week in what probably is a bigger game for second place in the Big 10.
Other big winners included Vanderbilt and Florida in the SEC notching home wins against Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. Florida and Vandy are currently the 1-2 punch in the SEC. Louisville took a leg-up on Syracuse in the ever-changing Big East seeding battle. St. John's impressed yet again, winning at Cincinnati and cementing their NCAA bid.
Old Dominion notched a big road win at VCU, enhancing a strong at-large resume out of the Colonial. Colorado State, Alabama and Memphis all won battles of bubblicious teams. For Colorado State and Memphis, these wins will keep them solidly in my field this week. Alabama still has a little work to do, but with other bubble teams falling like flies, they have the ability to steal a bid.
Weekend Losers
The NCAA expansion committee would be one. On the court, the Big 12 bubble teams continue to flounder. Oklahoma State and Kansas State both lost winnable road games and Baylor failed to notch that signature victory at Texas. I want the Big 12 to be a five bid league, but it is getting tougher and tougher to project that. One of the three aforementioned teams needs to beat someone.
VCU lost a golden opportunity to sweep ODU and make it tough to keep them out behind the Monarchs. The Golden Rams have a huge week with games at home against George Mason and at Wichita State.
Duquesne also had a chance to get an impressive win, but failed to beat Xavier at home. Without that win, the at-large resume of the Dukes is lacking. Dayton and New Mexico were other bubblicious teams who failed in big games this weekend.
Monday's Games
West Virginia at Syracuse - a huge game for both, but The Orange really need this one to get back on track beating a legitimate team
Kansas at Kansas State - the Wildcats can go a long way to earning an at-large bid with a win here.
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