March Madness 2024 Bubble Watch: First Four Out, Last Four In, more on March 15
March Madness Bubble Watch: First Four Out
Team | Texas A&M | Virginia | Providence | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Conference | SEC | ACC | Big East | ACC |
Record | 19-13 (9-9) | 23-9 (13-7) | 21-12 (10-10) | 22-10 (12-8) |
NET | 46 | 50 | 57 | 40 |
Quad 1 Record | 5-6 | 2-6 | 6-8 | 4-5 |
Quad 2 Record | 7-2 | 8-3 | 3-4 | 5-3 |
Quad 3/4 Record | 7-5 | 13-0 | 12-0 | 13-2 |
Strength Of Schedule | 22 | 78 | 54 | 82 |
Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule | 65 | 232 | 256 | 340 |
Last Game | W 80-71 Vs. Ole Miss | W 66-60 (OT) Vs. Boston College | W 78-73 Vs. No. 8 Creighton | W 81-69 Vs. Wake Forest |
Next Game | Vs. No. 9 Kentucky 3/15 | Vs. NC State 3/15 | Vs. No. 10 Marquette 3/15 | Vs. No. 4 North Carolina 3/15 |
The Aggies are the first team out of the field as their resume is a mix of good (5 Quad 1 Wins), great (elite schedule numbers) and bad (13 losses, including five of the Quad 3 variety). A win over Kentucky today would likely put Texas A&M in the field while a loss would leave a long wait until Selection Sunday.
Many bracketologists are higher on Virginia than we are here but a look at their team sheet shows just two Quad 1 wins, a NET of 50, and metrics worse than that. Going to overtime with Boston College isn't a good look and a semifinal game against NC State gives them a chance to get to the ACC Tournament final still needing a win over the Tar Heels or Pitt to lock up their spot.
Providence took a big leap forward with a massive neutral site win over No. 8 Creighton yesterday, giving them their sixth Quad 1 win of the year. The NET and metrics aren't big fans of the Friars but they get a potential gift of a Quad 1 opportunity against a Marquette team who may not have its best player, Tyler Kolek, who sat out yesterday with an oblique injury.
Surviving a win-or-out game against Wake Forest was good for Pittsburgh, which now is in position to add a massive Quad 1 win against North Carolina tonight. The Panthers have arguably the best overall resume of anyone in this group and a win against the Tar Heels could put them over the top.