College Basketball Bubble Watch: Oregon needs a win

CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts on the bench against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Dean Smith Center on November 29, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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These four teams on the current college basketball bubble can make a move in week four.

With each week bringing more crucial college basketball nonconference matchups, the NCAA Tournament bubble is beginning to take shape.

The highlight of last week was the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, which was dominated by the ACC 11-3. That lopsided result raises a few questions about how many teams the Big Ten will get into the NCAA Tournament, with traditional stalwarts like the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines struggling early on.

Half of last year’s Final Four is in serious danger of missing the Big Dance with both the Oregon Ducks and South Carolina Gamecocks struggling. The Pac-12 could join the Big Ten in getting five bids or fewer, as other teams like the UCLA Bruins and Utah Utes are right on the projected early cut line.

While it’s still early in the season overall, nonconference play is quickly winding down, meaning a few bubble teams need to pick up marquee wins in the coming days. Here are five projected bubble teams to keep an eye on in week four.

Michigan Wolverines

After collapsing at Ohio State on Monday night, Michigan is in desperate need of a split during its upcoming two-game slate against difficult nonconference opponents.

Michigan was in good shape against the rival Buckeyes with a 20-point lead in the first half before surrendering a 26-3 run to eventually fall 81-72 at Value City Arena. That drops the Wolverines to 7-3 on the season after dropping their Maui opener to LSU and being beaten soundly by North Carolina in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, with no wins over current projected tournament teams.

That could change in the coming weeks, as the Wolverines face their most important stretch of the nonconference season. Michigan hosts UCLA on Saturday in what could be a nice win even with the Bruins sliding before taking on Mo Bamba and much-improved Texas on the road next Tuesday.

There’s enough talent for Michigan to make a run through the down Big Ten with junior Moritz Wagner and Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews off to strong starts. John Beilein is also a terrific coach with the ability to turn the Wolverines around at any moment, and Michigan showed off its explosive offense by shooting the lights out in the first half against Ohio State.

Still, losing to both UCLA and Texas in the next few days and dropping to 7-5 would certainly put the Wolverines on the wrong side of the cut line for now.