2012 March Madness Bubble Teams Bracketology: First Four Teams Out of the NCAA Tournament

2012 March Madness Bubble Teams Bracketology – Expert Picks and Predictions on First Four Teams Left Out of the 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket: As conference tournaments prepare to crown their champions, the battle is heating up between the bubble teams for the final spots in the NCAA tournament field.  At this point in the season, one win could be all it takes to propel a team into the field of 68, while one loss could keep a team from going to the big dance. For the bubble teams still alive in their conference tournaments, they control their own destiny. For the teams that are already eliminated, all they can do is sit and wait.

2012 NCAA Tournament Bubble Teams Bracketology and Predictions: First Four Teams Out of the NCAA Tournament Bracket

1. Seton Hall Pirates (20-12)

After cruising past Providence in the opening round of the Big East tournament, Seton Hall fell to Louisville in the quarterfinals. The loss leaves the Pirates sitting 59th in the RPI with the 49th-toughest schedule, and both numbers are right on the borderline of making the NCAA tournament. Throw in the fact that Seton Hall posted a 3-8 mark against teams in the RPI top 50 and lost 10 of its final 15 games, and its resume becomes even shakier. At this point, the Pirates probably need some help from a couple of other bubble teams in order to be a part of March Madness.

2. North Carolina State Wolfpack (21-11)

The good news for the Wolfpack is that it is still alive and kicking in the ACC tournament. The bad news is that it is also winless against the RPI top 50 in eight tries this season. North Carolina State gets a chance to change that Friday against Virginia, and a win against the Cavaliers would put the Wolfpack in much better shape. For now, N.C. State has the 19th-toughest schedule, but it also sits 52nd in the RPI and lacks a signature win. Without at least one more victory, the Wolkpack are probably going to miss out on the NCAA tournament. The next day or two will decide this team’s fate.

3. Northwestern Wildcats (18-13)

It was going to be the feel good story of the season, but Northwestern’s bid to make its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance seems to be going down in flames. An overtime loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament was the latest in a long line of narrow defeats, and the Wildcats have just one win in 11 tries against teams in the RPI top 50. Even with the eighth-toughest schedule, Northwestern ranks 44th in the RPI and has consistently shown it can’t close the deal against better teams. In the end, the Wildcats just didn’t do enough to warrant a spot in the tournament field, and their loss to Minnesota was likely the nail in the coffin.

4. Oregon Ducks (22-9)

The Ducks were barely hanging on the bubble entering the Pac-12 tournament, and with their loss to Colorado, they would need a ton of help to make it into the field of 68. Oregon ranks 49-th in the RPI, which is very borderline. Factor in the Ducks’ strength of schedule (87) and their 0-5 record against opponents in the RPI top 50, and their resume only gets weaker. Normally, a 22-win team from a power conference would be comfortably in the tournament field. However, a down year for the Pac-12 leaves Oregon’s overall record lacking the necessary substance to be a part of March Madness.

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