Games Of Note/Bubble Watch 2024

[hskr4life]

I've been waiting to start a thread even though I've been watching the bubble for a few weeks now.  Of course at this time of the year, it's large and will get slimmed down.  There are only a few teams that are on "life support" as I saw one bracketologist refer to them.  Teams like Oregon State, DePaul, etc that would pretty much need to run the table and win their conference tournament.  I'll do my best to include all bubbly teams, but there is some personal opinion involved.  Hopeful to update this each day with results from the previous day and games to watch for the current/next day.  Format below.  I may throw in some of my thoughts each day too.

 

Results (Date)

• Big 10 Games
• Non-Con Opponents Games
• Other Bubble Games

 

Games To Watch (Date)

• Big 10 Games
• Non-Con Opponents Games
• Other Bubble Games

 

So here is the inaugural post.

 

Results (1/25/24): Overall, a pretty good day for us.  Our Non-Con opponents took care of business and that huge win for Oregon St. should keep them a Q3.  In bubble action, the teams we'd like to lose all won.  St. Mary's and Gonzaga could be a 1 bid league... but we need them to lose a couple more.  St. Mary's get's a nice bump to #18 in the NET because they won big.  Grand Canyon could also steal a bid if they run the table.

• Big 10 Games
  • NONE
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Oregon State 83, (9) Arizona 80
  • Stony Brook 72, Monmouth 65
  • Rider 62, St. Peters 57
  • Little Rock 80, Lindenwood 66
  • Cal St. Fullerton 54, Cal Poly 51
• Other Bubble Games
  • St. Mary's 76, Pacific 28
  • Gonzaga 77, San Francisco 72
  • Grand Canyon 53, Stephen F Austin 51

 

Games To Watch (1/26/24): Not too much happening today.  A good one in the Big 10 on tap, but pretty much a wash for us on who we need to win at this point.  The bubble game is a stretch, but St. Joe's could crack a bid should they pile up some wins in the A-10.

• Big 10 Games
  • Michigan St @ Wisconsin
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • None
• Other Bubble Games
  • St. Joseph's @ St. Bonaventure

Edited January 26 by hskr4life

[Shawn Eichorst's Toupee]

Barttorvik has a rooting guide section on their website that could be helpful in this endeavor. https://barttorvik.com/bubble-guide.php?team=Nebraska

[cozrulz]

Cool but the Huskers are fighting for a 5-seed or greater...

[hhcmatt]

2 hours ago, Shawn Eichorst's Toupee said:

Barttorvik has a rooting guide section on their website that could be helpful in this endeavor. https://barttorvik.com/bubble-guide.php?team=Nebraska

 

This won't be hard to get behind

 

[hskr4life]

Results (1/26/24): That should officially put St Joes on life support-- even though I don't think they were particularly close to the bubble.  Let's hope that MSU loss doesn't knock them down to a Q2 game.

• Big 10 Games
  • Wisconsin 81, MSU 66
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • None
• Other Bubble Games
  • St. Bonny 91, St Joes 72

 

Games To Watch (1/27/24): A lot of games on tap for today.  The bubble list... is huge... mostly because of how early it is.  Added some notes about individual games below.  There are certainly some games more important than others.  May have missed some, but at this point... it doesn't matter a ton.  Fun fact... every  one of our non-con opponents is playing.

 

• Big 10 Games
  • Nebraska @ Maryland
  • Indiana @ Illinois- A loss here for Illinois + a loss by NW would move us into a tie for 3rd.
  • Iowa @ Michigan
  • Minnesota @ Penn State
  • Ohio St @ Northwestern- A loss here for NW + a loss by Illinois would move us into a tie for 3rd.
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Lindenwood @ UT Martin
  • Alcorn St @FA&M 
  • Rider @ Mt. St. Marys
  • UNCW @ Stony Brook
  • Arizona St @ Oregon St- Another chance to cement themselves as a Q3.
  • Fordham @ Duquesne- If Duquesne could get on a roll here, they could pop back up into a Q2 win.  Lot of work to do though.
  • Cal St. Bakersfield @ Cal St Fullerton
  • DePaul @ Creighton
  • KState @ Houston- A chance for KSU to cement themselves as a Q1 win for us.
  • UND @ St. Thomas
  • SC State @ Delaware St
• Other Bubble Games
  • Virginia @ Louisville
  • Georgia @ Florida
  • Georgetown @ Providence
  • Seton Hall @ Marquette
  • North Carolina @ Florida St
  • Texas @ BYU
  • Princeton @ Cornell
  • Pittsburg @ Miami
  • Villanova @ Butler
  • Grand Canyon @ UT Arlington
  • Auburn @ Mississippi St
  • Clemson @ Duke
  • TCU @ Baylor
  • Utah St @ Boise St
  • Colorado @ Washington St
  • Bradley @ Indiana St
  • Northern Iowa @ Drake
  • NC St @ Syracuse
  • UCF @ Cincinnati
  • Ole Miss @ Texas A&M
  • Utah @ Washington
  • Loyola @ St. Marys
  • Gonzaga @ Pacific

 

 

Edited January 27 by hskr4life

[hskr4life]

Results (1/27/24): These are more fun to do when you’re inflated and not deflated.  But alas, we move on.  Non-Con opponents outside of KSU did really well.  They may drop to a Q2 for a bit.  Bubble games with so many games left are meh to go too in depth, but a lot of other bubbly teams sucked today too. 

• Big 10 Games
  • Maryland 73, Nebraska 51
  • Illinois 70, Indiana 62
  • Iowa 88, Michigan 78
  • Minnesota 83, Penn St 74
  • Northwestern 83, tOSU 58
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • UT Martin 76, Lindenwood 67
  • Alcorn St 76, Florida A&M 67
  • Rider 66, Mt St Mary’s 62
  • Stony Brook 86, UNCW 78
  • Oregon St 84, Arizona St 71
  • Duquesne 68, Fordham 59
  • Cal St. Fullerton 68, Cal St Bakersfield 50
  • Creighton 85, DePaul 62
  • Houston 74, KState 52
  • UND 74, St. Thomas 64
  • SC State 66, Delaware St 64
• Other Bubble Games
  • Virginia 69, Louisville 52
  • Florida 102, Georgia 98
  • Providence 84, Georgetown 76
  • Marquette 75, Seton Hall 57
  • North Carolina 75, Florida St 68
  • BYU 84, Texas 72
  • Cornell 83, Pronceton 68
  • Miami 72, Pitt 68
  • Butler 88, VillaNova 81
  • Grand Canyon 67, UT Arlington 61
  • Miss St 64, Auburn 58
  • Duke 72, Clemson 71
  • TCU 105, Baylor 102
  • Utah St 90, Boise St 84
  • Wyoming 79, Colorado St 76
  • Washington St 78, Colorado 69
  • Indiana St 95, Bradley 86
  • Drake 77, Northern Iowa 63
  • Syracuse 77, NC ST 65
  • Cincinnati 68, UCF 57
  • Ole Miss 71, Texas A&M 68
  • Utah 43 @ Washington 62 (2nd half)
  • Loyola 47 @ St. Marys 49 (2nd half)
  • Gonzaga 56 @ Pacific 54 (2nd half)

 

Games To Watch (1/28/24):

• Big 10 Games
  • Purdue @ Rutgers
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • NONE
• Other Bubble Games
  • North Texas @ FAU
  • Memphis @ UAB
  • Nevada @ New Mexico

[hskr4life]

Results (1/28/24): While it's probably likely that both Memphis and FAU are in... the American is eating each other up right now.  Memphis is 4-3 and FAU has had a lot of close calls.  Memphis and FAU play each other twice.  Neither seem like a Top 25 team right now though.  Memphis will most likely fall behind us in the NET and we in the 60's.

• Big 10 Games
  • Purdue 68 @ Rutgers 60
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • NONE
• Other Bubble Games
  • North Texas 63 @ FAU 66
  • Memphis 88 @ UAB 97
  • Nevada @ New Mexico (LATE)

Games To Watch (1/29/24):

• Big 10 Games
  • NONE
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • SC St @ Maryland Eastern Shore
  • Jackson St @ Florida A&M
• Other Bubble Games
  • Duke @ Va Tech
  • Houston @ Texas

[hskr4life]

On 1/28/2024 at 7:15 PM, hskr4life said:

Results (1/28/24): While it's probably likely that both Memphis and FAU are in... the American is eating each other up right now.  Memphis is 4-3 and FAU has had a lot of close calls.  Memphis and FAU play each other twice.  Neither seem like a Top 25 team right now though.  Memphis will most likely fall behind us in the NET and we in the 60's.

• Big 10 Games
  • Purdue 68 @ Rutgers 60
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • NONE
• Other Bubble Games
  • North Texas 63 @ FAU 66
  • Memphis 88 @ UAB 97
  • Nevada @ New Mexico (LATE)

Games To Watch (1/29/24):

• Big 10 Games
  • NONE
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • SC St @ Maryland Eastern Shore
  • Jackson St @ Florida A&M
• Other Bubble Games
  • Duke @ Va Tech
  • Houston @ Texas

 

New Mexico beat Nevada by like 30+ which probably knocks Nevada out of most brackets they were in.  MWC still appears to be a 5 bid league when all is said and done though.

[AuroranHusker]

Purdue wins at Iowa (as so did Maryland), and now, Purdue wins at Rutgers. They're a real solid team, much like Wisc. NU beating Wisc. would be another feather in NU's cap, but unless the Huskers find some dubs away from PBA, it's going to be difficult....well, gotta hope this Thurs. is a fun night! Onward and upward. GBR

 

Edited January 30 by AuroranHusker

[hskr4life]

Results (1/29/24): Texas loses their opportunity for a signature win.

• Big 10 Games
  • NONE
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • SC St 63 @ Maryland Eastern Shore 53
  • Jackson St 86 @ Florida A&M 88
• Other Bubble Games
  • Duke 77 @ Va Tech 67
  • Houston 76 @ Texas 72

 

Games To Watch (1/30/24): A lot of possible bubble teams playing bad opponents where a loss would be a huge wart on the resume.  Syracuse, Clemson, and Seton Hall all fall into this category.  Gonzaga is still on the outside looking in according to come, so another loss here can continue to help ensure that conference is only a 1 bid conference.

• Big 10 Games
  • Illinois @ Ohio State
  • Iowa @ Indiana
  • Michigan @ Michigan St
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Oklahoma @ Kansas State
  • SE Missouri St @ Lindenwood
• Other Bubble Games
  • Marquette @ Villanova
  • Syracuse @ Boston College
  • Miss St @ Ole Miss
  • San Diego St @ Colorado St
  • Louisville @ Clemson
  • Seton Hall @ DePaul
  • Loyola @ Gonzaga

Edited January 30 by hskr4life

[hskr4life]

Results (1/30/24): KSU losing again knocks them down to a Q2 opponent for the time being.  It's the Big 12, so almost any win is going to be a great one, but KSU is on a 3 game skid currently.  The Cuse lose again to Boston college and find themselves on the outside of being outside looking in now.  Villanova extended their skid to 5 games and appear far out of contention as well at just 11-10, 4-6.  The Big 10 didn't have anything too crazy and we find ourselves in a 4 way tie for 5th currently at 5-5.

• Big 10 Games
  • Illinois 87 @ Ohio State 75
  • Iowa 68 @ Indiana 74
  • Michigan 62 @ Michigan St 81
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Oklahoma 73 @ Kansas State 53
  • SE Missouri St 54 @ Lindenwood 58
• Other Bubble Games
  • Marquette 85 @ Villanova 80
  • Syracuse 75 @ Boston College 80
  • Miss St 82 @ Ole Miss 86
  • San Diego St 71 @ Colorado St 79
  • Louisville 64 @ Clemson 70
  • Seton Hall 72 @ DePaul 39
  • Loyola 58 @ Gonzaga 92

 

 

Games To Watch (1/31/24): 

• Big 10 Games
  • Northwestern @ Purdue
  • Penn State @ Rutgers
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Chicago St @ Duquesne
• Other Bubble Games
  • Alabama @ Georgia
  • St John's @ Xavier
  • Notre Dame @ Virginia
  • Wake Forrest @ Pitt
  • Cincinnati @ West Virginia
  • Richmond @ Fordham
  • Indiana St @ Belmont
  • Florida @ Kentucky
  • Rice @ Memphis
  • Valparaiso @ Drake
  • Providence @ Uconn
  • Boise St @ New Mexico
  • Santa Clara @ St. Mary's

Edited January 31 by hskr4life

[hskr4life]

Results (1/31/24): Overall, bubble teams keep doing what we need them to do for the most part.  Some teams that were solidly in are looking more bubbly too.  Boise St. cemented their place for the time being last night.

• Big 10 Games
  • Northwestern 96 @ Purdue 105
  • Penn State 61 @ Rutgers 46
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Chicago St 60 @ Duquesne 65
• Other Bubble Games
  • Alabama 85 @ Georgia 76
  • St John's 77 @ Xavier 88
  • Notre Dame 53 @ Virginia 65
  • Wake Forrest 72 @ Pitt 77
  • Cincinnati 65 @ West Virginia 69
  • Richmond 83 @ Fordham 69
  • Indiana St 78 @ Belmont 72
  • Florida 94 @ Kentucky 91
  • Rice 74 @ Memphis 71
  • Valparaiso 70 @ Drake 81
  • Providence 65 @ Uconn 74
  • Boise St 86 @ New Mexico 78
  • Santa Clara 77 @ St. Mary's 82

Games To Watch (2/1/24): Biggest game of the day in Lincoln.  We can greatly increase our chances at a bid with a win today.

• Big 10 Games
  • Wisconsin @ Nebraska
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Stony Brook @ Hofstra
  • North Dakota @ South Dakota
  • Western Illinois @ Lindenwood
  • Hawaii @ Cal St Fullerton
  • Oregon St @ UCLA
• Other Bubble Games
  • Seattle U @ Grand Canyon
  • Oregon @ USC
  • San Diego @ San Francisco 

[hskr4life]

Results (2/1/24): Biggest win of the day was ours of course.  Outside of that, our non-con opponents could have had a better day and all bubbly teams took care of business.  One note is that North Dakota is doing pretty dang well in conference play and sit in a tie at the top of the Summit standings.

• Big 10 Games
  • Wisconsin 72 @ Nebraska 80
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Stony Brook 71 @ Hofstra 72
  • North Dakota 95 @ South Dakota 81
  • Western Illinois 79 @ Lindenwood 71
  • Hawaii 76 @ Cal St Fullerton 68
  • Oregon St 63 @ UCLA 71
• Other Bubble Games
  • Seattle U 88 @ Grand Canyon 95
  • Oregon 78 @ USC 69
  • San Diego 79 @ San Francisco 95

 

 

Games To Watch (2/1/24): Need Creighton to beat Butler (Puke).  If Tim could pull off some Miles Magic, that would be a terrible loss for Nevada.

• Big 10 Games
  • Ohio St. @ Iowa
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Siena @ Rider
  • Butler @ Creighton
• Other Bubble Games
  • St Bonaventure @ Dayton
  • Princeton @ Yale
  • San Jose State @ Nevada

[hskr4life]

Results (2/2/24): 

• Big 10 Games
  • Ohio St. 77 @ Iowa 79
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Siena 50 @ Rider 91
  • Butler @ Creighton (Close game late)
• Other Bubble Games
  • St Bonaventure 71 @ Dayton 76
  • Princeton 64 @ Yale 70
  • San Jose State @ Nevada (Late, late game)

 

Games To Watch (2/3/24): Saturday is always a big slate.

• Big 10 Games
  • Penn St. @ Indiana
  • Northwestern @ Minnesota
  • Rutgers @ Michigan
  • Maryland @ Michigan St.
• Non-Con Opponents Games
  • Duquesne @ Rhode Island
  • Kansas State @ Oklahoma St
  • Morgan St @ South Carolina St
  • North Dakota St @ North Dakota
  • Florida A&M @ Alabama A&M
  • Northeastern @ Stony Brook
  • Oregon St @ USC
• Other Bubble Games
  • UCONN @ St. Johns
  • Va Tech @ Miami
  • Wichita St. @ Memphis
  • South Carolina @ Georgia
  • Texas @ TCU
  • Virginia @ Clemson
  • Oklahoma @ UCF
  • Florida @ Texas A&M
  • Air Force @ Boise St
  • Grand Canyon @ Utah Valley
  • Colorado @ Utah
  • GA Tech @ NC State
  • Cincinnati @ Texas Tech
  • Tulsa @ Florida Atlantic
  • Drake @ Indiana St
  • Syracuse @ Wake Forest
  • Mississippi St @ Alabama
  • Oregon @ UCLA
  • Colorado St @ Fresno St
  • St. Mary's @ Gonzaga

[AuroranHusker]

Butler wins at CU, 99-98. Wild set of sequences at the very end.

 

[TourneyBound]

12 hours ago, AuroranHusker said:

Butler wins at CU, 99-98. Wild set of sequences at the very end.

 

Has that game ended yet…??  Good grief that last minute was almost unwatchable as long as it took

[doc1394]

Ridiculously good weekend for a college basketball fan 

[The Polish Rifle]

That KSU win is slowly turning into a dud

[hskr4life]

We are officially tired for 4th with 9 games left.

[HuskerFever]

11 minutes ago, hskr4life said:

We are officially tired for 4th with 9 games left.

 

Anything but 4th.... anything but 4th... Can we finish #5 and they take 4 Big Ten teams? 

[Handy Johnson]

Just listened to Goldy the Gopher BEAT Northwestern on Alumni Day at the Barn. Might’ve saved Ben Johnson’s Job, went to OT then MN took over. 

Edited February 3 by Handy Johnson

[hhcmatt]

14 hours ago, Handy Johnson said:

Just listened to Goldy the Gopher BEAT Northwestern on Alumni Day at the Barn. Might’ve saved Ben Johnson’s Job, went to OT then MN took over. 

 

[jimmykc]

Northwestern looked worn down by game's end. Let's hope it carries over through Wednesday. 

[Ron Mexico]

Maybe it's because I won't believe it until I see it mentality, but I think we have work to do and some of the bracketology sites don't think we will make it, or they give us very low odds of making the tournament.

Team Rankings is one of those sites.

Nebraska Cornhuskers: Results, Picks, Power Rankings, Odds & Stats on TeamRankings.com

[Nebrasketball1979]

Definitely a game of note about to tip off as Purdue travels to Wisconsin.  I think it's to our benefit if Bucky bounces back with a win.  Purdue is very solidly on the #1 line with a plethora of very good wins.  A Wisconsin win keeps them firmly on the #2 line with still a chance to grab a 1 seed depending on how they play the rest of the year.  Haven beaten two #1 seeds or a #1 and a #2 seed will be something almost no one in the field will be able to have on us and almost certainly no one on the bubble.  For the record, I suspect we're pretty far off the bubble by the end of the year.  6-3 seems like a very reasonable finish and likely puts us in the 6-8 range.