|
EVENTS
Sportsman of the Year
Heisman Trophy
Swimsuit 2001
CENTERS
Fantasy Central
Inside Game
Multimedia Central
Statitudes
Your Turn
Message Boards
Email Newsletters
Golf Guide
Cities
Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
Sports Illustrated
Life of Reilly
Television
SI Women
SI for Kids
Press Room
TBS/TNT Sports
CNN Languages
COMMERCE
SI Customer Service
SI Media Kits
Get into College
Sports Memorabilia
TeamStore
|  |
Blowing bubbles
CNNSI.com takes early glimpse at NCAA picture
Posted: Monday February 07, 2000 06:29 PM
| |
Despite seven straight conference wins, Clarence Gilbert and Missouri are still on the bubble. Stephen Dunn/Allsport |
By Stewart Mandel, CNNSI.com
First off, this would be a whole lot easier if there was a BCS formula for basketball, don't you think?
Yeah, right.
Selection Sunday may be five weeks away, but it's never too early to start packing (see Cincinnati, Stanford, Duke). Or unpacking (that means you, Michigan, UNC-Charlotte, SMU).
As has been the theme in many recent years, parity gives plenty of 13-8 and 12-7 teams reason for hope. And while the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC are the class of 2000, none figures to send as many as seven teams, leaving reason for optimism in places like the MAC and the WCC.
By our calculations, 19 of the 29 NCAA automatic bids will go to conferences that send only one participant. That leaves the 12 analyzed below to fight over the remaining 45 spots.
| ACC |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Duke (18-2)
N.C. State (15-5)
Maryland (16-6)
|
Virginia (15-7)
North Carolina (13-9)
Wake Forest (12-10)
|
Projected: 5 (Duke, N.C State, Maryland, Virginia, UNC)
The Tar Heels are on thin ice, though. Schedule strength and prestige put them in with a better-than-.500 finish. |
| Atlantic 10 |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Temple (16-4)
Dayton (17-4)
|
St. Bonaventure (13-6)
Xavier (13-8)
|
Projected: 3 (Temple, Dayton, St. Bonaventure)
A-10 is perceived as down this year; Bonnies will need a strong finish. |
| Big East |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Syracuse (19-0)
Seton Hall (15-4)
Connecticut (16-5)
St. John's (14-6)
|
Miami (14-8)
Notre Dame (14-9)
West Virginia (12-8)
Villanova (12-8)
|
Projected: 4 (Syracuse, Seton Hall, UConn, St. John's)
Miami could also earn its way in, but Irish have the edge as of now with wins over Ohio State and UConn.
|
| Big Ten |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Ohio State (16-3)
Michigan St. (17-5)
Indiana (17-3)
|
Purdue (15-7)
Illinois (13-7)
Michigan (12-7)
Penn State (12-8)
|
Projected: 5 (OSU, Michigan St., Indiana, Purdue, Illinois)
The Illini got a big, last-second win Sunday at Penn State and have played Duke and Kansas. Michigan is fading quick with Jamal Crawford out five games.
|
| Big 12 |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Oklahoma St. (18-2)
Iowa St. (19-3)
Oklahoma (18-3)
Kansas (17-5)
Texas (15-6)
|
Missouri (14-6)
|
Projected: 6 (OSU, ISU, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Mizzou)
There is a profound difference between the haves and have-nots in this league. Texas is an astounding No. 9 in the RPI ratings. The surprising Tigers have won seven straight Big 12 games.
|
| Conference USA |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Cincinnati (22-1)
|
Tulane (15-6)
DePaul (15-7)
Southern Miss (13-7)
Marquette (13-8)
South Florida (13-8)
UAB (12-8)
Saint Louis (12-8)
|
Projected: 4 (Cincy, Tulane, DePaul, St. Louis)
After the Bearcats, this is the most wide-open race in the country. The Demons could be hurt by two remaining games against the Bearcats. The Billikens have four wins over RPI Top 50s.
|
| Mid-American |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
|
Kent (17-4)
|
Akron (16-6)
Bowling Green (16-5)
|
Projected: 2 (Kent, Akron)
Miami of Ohio's Sweet 16 run last year solidified the MAC's reputation. Both Akron and BG have weak out-of-conference schedules, though, and need to dominate the rest of the way.
|
| Mountain West* |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Utah (17-4)
|
UNLV (14-5)
BYU (15-5)
|
* -- no automatic bid
Projected: 2 (Utah, UNLV)
The Rebels don't quite have the RPI yet but played a good schedule and ended the Utes' conference domination last Saturday. |
| Pac-10 |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Stanford (19-1)
Arizona (19-4)
Oregon (16-4)
|
USC (13-8)
Cal (13-8)
UCLA (12-8)
|
Projected: 4 (Stanford, Arizona, Oregon, UCLA)
The Bruins' bid is obviously in peril, though they do still rank 35th in the RPI. The injury-plagued Trojans may struggle to hold up as well.
|
| SEC |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Tennessee (19-3)
Auburn (19-3)
Kentucky (17-5)
Florida (17-4)
LSU (17-4)
Vanderbilt (14-4)
|
Mississippi (14-7)
|
Projected: 6 (UT, Auburn, Kentucky, UF, LSU, Vandy)
Only a total collapse by Vandy would put the SEC below six bids. The Rebels could make it seven, but currently have no quality win besides Auburn.
|
| WAC* |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Tulsa (22-2)
|
SMU (16-5)
Fresno St. (16-7)
Hawaii (15-6)
|
* -- no automatic bid
Projected: 2 (Tulsa, Fresno)
The difference between Fresno and SMU is the Bulldogs have beaten the 22-2 Golden Hurricane.
|
| West Coast |
| Locks |
On Bubble |
Gonzaga (18-5)
|
Pepperdine (17-6)
|
Projected: 2 (Gonzaga, Pepperdine)
The 'Zags are a lock due to last year's Elite 8 run and a killer schedule. Pepperdine boasts a 29 RPI but is by no means safe.
|
Projected one-bid conferences (with current leader) (19): America East (Hofstra), Big Sky (Eastern Washington), Big South (Radford), Big West (Long Beach State), Colonial (James Madison), Ivy (Penn), Metro Atlantic (Siena), Mid Continent (Youngstown State), Mid Eastern Athletic (S.C. State), Midwestern Collegiate (Cleveland State), Missouri Valley (Indiana St.), Northeast (Central Connecticut St.), Ohio Valley (SE Missouri St.), Patriot (Lafayette), Southern (Appalachian St.), Southland (Texas-San Antonio), SWAC (Southern), Sun Belt (La.-Lafayete), Trans America (Troy State)
|
Copyright © 2000
CNN/Sports Illustrated
An AOL Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
|
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
|
