Bound for the Bubble

Boston College

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That loss at home to Robert Morris is going to look pretty bad on Selection Sunday. The good news: Eagles are 3-1 in the conference that is ranked No. 1 in the RPI.

Missouri

The Tigers played a solid nonconference schedule and scored a valuable home win over Texas, but at some point they need to win a tough game on the road.

Purdue

The Boilermakers are 5-1 in conference play, but they're hurt by overall weakness of the Big Ten, which is ranked last among the BCS leagues in the RPI. With such a young team, though, a late surge could make a good impression on the committee.

Syracuse

The Orange are sitting at No. 39 in the RPI, but after losing four of their last five games, they're heading in the wrong direction at the wrong time.

Arkansas

The Hogs have wins over VCU, Missouri and Baylor, but losses last week to South Carolina and Georgia leave them with lots of work to do.

Disappointments

NC State

To be fair, the Wolfpack, now 1-3 in the ACC, lost their starting point guard to an injury, but they were at full strength when they fell to New Orleans and East Carolina.

Virginia

The Cavs showed some life early on by winning at Arizona, but they haven't had a notable win since. They also got embarrassed against Xavier on the road by 38 points.

Kentucky

The Wildcats were ranked No. 20 in the preseason AP Poll, but even after knocking off Tennessee on Tuesday night, they're a game under .500 and sitting at No. 147 in the RPI.

Illinois

We knew the Illini would have a down year, but this current stretch of seven losses in eight games, including at home to Tennessee State and Penn State, is as rock-bottom as it gets.

Bradley

The Valley is as wide open as it's been in a while, but despite having an outstanding point guard in Daniel Ruffin, the Braves have been unable to take advantage.

Surprises

Arizona State

The Sun Devils have ridden their precocious freshman guard, James Harden, to a tie for first in the Pac-10.

Cincinnati

The Bearcats couldn't quite pull off the win over UConn on Wednesday night, but after losing to Belmont and Bowling Green in November, I'm sure they will take a 4-3 start in the Big East.

Dayton

The Flyers scored upsets over Big East powers Louisville and Pittsburgh, but they were also playing remarkably consistent until last week's home loss to UMass.

Wisconsin

The Badgers lost Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor from last year, but they've raced to a 6-0 record in the Big Ten and scored a huge road win at Texas without their starting point guard, Trevon Hughes.

St. Mary's

The Gaels were picked a close second in the West Coast Conference in the preseason, but nobody could have foreseen a 16-2 record and a No. 10 ranking in the RPI in late January

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