It has been a wild year in college basketball. Things seem to change so fast, as there were a number of teams that looked like locks for NCAA berths. Now several of them have work to do to make the field of 65.
Several weeks ago teams like Kansas State and Texas A&M looked like no-brainers to make the big dance. The Wildcats have dropped four in a row to become a bubble team. I just go to my VBDI (Vitale Bald Dome Index) and see that at 18-10 overall, with very few quality non-conference wins, Frank Martin's team is sweating right now. Kansas State had more wins last season and was left out of the big dance. The schedule is favorable with Colorado and a trip to Iowa State still on the regular-season docket.
What about Texas A&M following a 64-37 loss to Oklahoma? The Aggies have lost four of their last five games and have a pivotal contest at Baylor, followed by a home game against Kansas. The best non-conference win may be Oral Roberts. Mark Turgeon's squad does have 21 Ws, but there is still some work to be done. At 8-6 in the Big 12, this is a big one for Baylor too. The loser could end up in the NIT.
Look at Florida, the defending national champions. At one point the Gators were 5-1 in the SEC and 18-3 overall. Now Billy Donovan's squad is coming off a tough loss to Mississippi State and sits at 8-6 in the conference. Things are tough as the final two regular-season league games are against Tennessee and Kentucky (at Lexington).
Maryland was looking good at 6-3 in the ACC and 16-8 overall with a win at North Carolina. A recent slide of 2-4 in their last six has left the Terps battling for a berth. The recent nailbiter loss to Clemson was a blow, and the Terps need a win at Virginia this weekend to regain some momentum heading into the ACC tournament.
It has been a wild season in the A-10. Dayton looked like a lock after beating Louisville and Pittsburgh. Rhode Island, Massachusetts and St. Joe's have all been contenders for NCAA berths. Now it could come down to which team gets hot in the conference tournament.
Houston has made some noise this season, but a loss at East Carolina was a major setback. Tom Penders' Cougars will merit consideration as well.
Out west, Arizona is 2-6 in its last eight games, but strength of conference and non-league schedule (played Memphis and Kansas tough, beat Houston, UNLV and Texas A&M) will help.
There are a lot of games still to be played, but the race is on to impress the NCAA tournament selection committee. My friends, we are in March Madness and it is excitement galore. This is a great time of year for college basketball fans as every game has meaning, especialy to those trying to get off the "bubble".
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
