The Panthers are still looking for one more signature win to punch their NCAA ticket. Let's review last night's action... starting with the biggest loser's first.
Wednesday's Biggest Losers
Pitt
Our Panthers saw their RPI plummet from 36th to 45th... and their NCAA chances fall from 64.6% to 49.1%.
Not good. It was a game that was there for the taking. And now Pitt is in a position where a win over Duke this Sunday would be a very, very good thing for their NCAA chances. Otherwise, they'll likely have to win two road games to close out the season.
VCU
VCU went on the road against 9-18 George Mason.... and allowed George Mason to get their 10th win. It was a horrible, horrible loss for VCU. It dropped their NCAA chances from 90.3% to 67.9%. The Rams went from safely in to "oh sh*t, we better win some more games" in one bad night.
Creighton
The Blue Jays couldn't afford a home loss against Marquette. But that's exactly what they did. Their chances fell from 24.8% all the way down to 10%. A season-crushing loss.
Washington
UDub lost 82-81 on a buzzer beater against fellow bubbler Oregon State....that effectively ended their hopes at a NCAA bid. Chances fell from 9.2% to 4.8%.
Wednesday's Winners
Wisconsin
The Badgers' win at Iowa moved them from 74.4% to lock territory at 92.4%. They've now won 8 of their past 9 games. They're surging at the right time. Have a brewski, gang. You're in.
Colorado
They stormed the court after beating Arizona last night. That pissed Sean Miller off, and he said in his postgame comments that one of these days "an Arizona player is going to punch a fan."
But Colorado got the signature win they needed. Their chances went from 42.4% all the way up to 73.8%. That's worth taking a fist to the chops.
Michigan
The Wolverines fell behind 10-0 at home to Northwestern, but stormed back to get a relatively easy victory. Their chances improved from 63.0% to 66.3%. Not a big jump, but still in the right direction.
George Washington
The Colonials improved their chances from 29.8% to 38.8% after their road win over Richmond.
St. Bonaventure
Sorry. There are literally no attractive pictures of St. Bonaventure cheerleaders on the entire internet. This is the best they've got. Let's hope they never win another game. Thanks a lot, Duquesne. Their chances went from 60.0% to 62.5%.
San Diego State
San Diego State twisted and contorted their way to a good road win at Wyoming. Their chances went from 50.1% to 58.2%.
Oregon State
Nice Beavers! (Naked Gun reference, get your minds out of the gutter). Their buzzer beating win against UDub improved the Beavers' chances from 44.8% to 52%.
Thursday's Bubble Action
Hofstra (RPI: 66 Chances: 31.9%)
at UNC-Wilmington (RPI: 61 Chances: 53.3%)
7pm, no TV
- The winner puts themselves in a position to possibly get an at-large bid without winning the conference. Whoever wins this game, let's hope they win the conference tourney also. Go Whoever!
Providence (RPI: 39 Chances: 57.0%)
at Seton Hall (RPI: 44 Chances: 66.2%)
7pm, FS1
- This is a game that will both help Pitt and hurt Pitt. One team likely punches their ticket, and the other likely drops behind Pitt. In general, root for the road team in these kinds of games, because the home loss would be more devastating. So ... Go Friars... barely.
UCLA (RPI: 74 Chances: 16.6%)
at California (RPI: 20 Chances: 97.4%)
9pm, ESPN2
- Cal is in. I only list them because a home loss MIGHT drop them below 90% and theoretically back onto the bubble. But assuming they take care of business, UCLA will be 6-9 in conference and D-O-N-E. Go Bears!
Gonzaga (RPI: 67 Chances: 57.1%)
at San Diego
10pm, no TV
- San Diego is one of the worst teams in college basketball at 8-19. If Gonzaga were to lose this one, their only hope to make the dance would be to win the WCC tourney. And that's remarkable, since they have two future NBA players in Wiltjer and Sabonis. This is one of Mark Few's worst coaching jobs, and he can't afford to lose another game. Go Toreros! (yes, that's what San Diego's mascot is).
USC (RPI: 32 Chances: 80.6%)
at Stanford
11pm, P12N
- The Trojans are on the good side of the bubble, but can't afford to slip up against a mediocre Cardinal team. Go Cardinal!
