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College Basketball Bubble Watch: Week 16

By Nathaniel Reeves

Feb 22, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange fans celebrate on the court following the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome. The Orange won 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange fans celebrate on the court following the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome. The Orange won 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 2, 2017; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) reacts after a play by the Utah Utes during the second overtime period at Haas Pavilion. The California Golden Bears defeated the Utah Utes 77-75 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2017; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) reacts after a play by the Utah Utes during the second overtime period at Haas Pavilion. The California Golden Bears defeated the Utah Utes 77-75 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

California Golden Bears

If the Golden Bears end up on the wrong side on the bubble, Wednesday’s defeat against Oregon will stand out as a huge missed opportunity.

California led the Ducks by 14 points at halftime before falling 68-65 on a buzzer beater by Dillon Brooks. That makes it three straight losses for the Golden Bears, who are now 18-9 overall and 9-6 in a pretty middling Pac-12.

Wednesday’s game continued a trend from the rest of the season, as California has no particularly impressive wins yet no real damaging losses, other than maybe last Friday’s road defeat at Stanford. Given the current state of the bubble, that might just be enough to make the NCAA Tournament, but the Golden Bears are right on the cut line heading into the final week.

California is at least in good shape with the No. 43 RPI, which is ahead of just about every other bubble team in a major conference. The Golden Bears will be dangerous come tournament time if they make it, as they feature a star in Ivan Rabb and are one of the best defensive teams in the nation.

Next: 12 Biggest Cinderellas In March Madness History

A loss to 5-24 Oregon State at home on Friday would certainly not be helpful, and California would be in a precarious position should it drop either ensuing game against Colorado or Utah.