HuskerFever

Lunardi's bubble watch after Friday's games: Last Four Byes NC State: N/A Florida State: N/A USC: TONIGHT neut Arizona UCLA: N/A Last Four In Saint Mary's: N/A Texas: N/A Oklahoma: N/A Arizona State: N/A First Four Out Louisville: N/A Notre Dame: N/A Baylor: N/A Oklahoma State: N/A Next Four Out Middle Tennessee: N/A Syracuse: N/A Marquette: N/A Penn State: N/A Lunardi's Most Hated Team Nebraska

Updated after Friday's games.

It's too bad "last x-games" isn't on the stat sheets anymore this year. Here they are: Last 10 Games 1. Middle Tennessee: 8-2 1. Nebraska: 8-2 3. Baylor: 6-4 3. Marquette: 6-4 3. Notre Dame: 6-4 3. Penn State: 6-4 3. UCLA: 6-4 8. Oklahoma State: 5-5 8. Syracuse: 5-5 10. Alabama: 4-6 10. Arizona State: 4-6 10. Louisville: 4-6 10. Texas: 4-6 14. Oklahoma: 2-8 Last 15 Games 1. Middle Tennessee: 12-3 2. Nebraska: 11-4 3. Penn State: 8-7 3. Syracuse: 8-7 3. UCLA: 8-7 6. Alabama: 7-8 6. Arizona State: 7-8 6. Baylor: 7-8 6. Marquette: 7-8 6. Notre Dame: 7-8 6. Oklahoma State: 7-8 12. Texas: 7-8 13. Louisville: 6-9 14. Oklahoma: 4-11

Saturday's Games of Interest: UMBC/Vermont - going with Vermont for the autobid just in case UT Arlington/Louisiana - again, going with Louisiana just in case Memphis/Cincinnati - can't give Memphis a shot at the autobid Saint Joseph's/Rhode Island - critical to have URI win this one Alabama/Kentucky - Alabama likely sealed their bid, but why not have them lose Arkansas/Tennessee - unless you see a loss shift quadrants, looking to have Arkansas lose Davidson/St. Bonaventure - time to root for the Bonnies to knock off a 3-bid A10 threat West Virginia/Kansas - RPI boost and "lost to Big 12 and Big Ten champs; KU in final 30 seconds" New Mexico/San Diego State - Nevada really screwed this one up, let's make it an even worse loss Providence/Villanova - Providence is in, but why not have them lose Toledo/Buffalo - going for Buffalo to get the autobid Marshall/Western Kentucky - going with WKU for the autobid USC/Arizona - need Arizona to win this one Grand Canyon/New Mexico State - going with NMSU to get the autobid Quadrant Movement Magic: (If you find any reason to root for/against another team just for shifts in quadrants, put them here) Today's a big day with 14 autobids about to be earned. That's a very quick way to start thinning out the bubble opportunities. Root for the current at-large teams to win.

Updated.

Didn't get the luck of the draw today. Just can't catch a break.

"Nobody's going to want to face this USC team in the tournament. They're as dangerous as it gets." Paaaa-leaaase.

What stings about Nevada is that they have an RPI of 12, SOR of 33, and BPI of 28. Great numbers. However, they are: Q1: 2-2 (Wins: vs. URI, at BSU) Q2: 5-3 (Wins: vs. BSU, at Fresno St, at UC Irvine, at UNLV, at UNLV) Then 2 Q3 losses (vs. UNLV, neut. San Francisco). None of those teams will be in the tournament. Maybe Nevada doesn't end up getting selected? One can hope.

It really comes down to how much they truly value early/late season games. Pundits keep saying all games are equal, but Rasmussen has hinted otherwise (that sites, injuries, significance of the game, etc. matters).

Remaining games of interest tonight: Oregon/USC: 23-37 Halftime Seattle/New Mexico State: 43-37 Halftime

During the Oregon/USC broadcast: "Howie says USC will still be in the tournament even if they lose this game. They are currently a 10 seed, but if they lose this game they will be in the play-in game as a 12 seed."

USC's mascot is pretty creepy too.

Even if the number of active bubble teams are diminishing and there aren't make of our opponents remaining, tomorrow is a crucial day. There are 14 autobids that will be sealed tomorrow with 5 more on Sunday. One misstep could make the bubble that much thinner.

My favorite thing with Lunardi's unofficial updates (while the games are still going on for the night) has been his steadfast opinion about the outcome of the remaining games. A perfect example was during a Washington game (maybe it was against Oregon?) where he said at halftime "Washington is in the First Four Bye no matter if they win or lose this game."

That's a valid concern. I don't trust Arizona.

Arkansas was pretty cleanly in, but man oh man... we'd be looking at a #4/#9 and #2/#6 semifinals tomorrow.

Hopefully we're booking our tickets to Dayton. It's too bad Nevada just took either Arizona State, Oklahoma, or Notre Dame out of the tournament.

Pac-12 "The Conference of Overtimes"

Are they really using one of those spidercams at the Pac-12 game in Vegas?

Did you not hear? The pundits think the Mountain West is equivalent to the Big Ten. And the Big Ten is down this year, so...

I know Villanova is beating butler 16-0, but I'm suspicious that Butler will come back to win this game in the 2nd half.

Final games tonight: St. Louis/Davidson: 15-39 3:38 1st UCLA/Arizona: 17-13 12:49 1st San Diego State/Nevada: 30-14 10:30 1st UCF/Houston: Delayed Oregon/USC: 10:30 pm CST Seattle/New Mexico State: 10:30 pm CST

It's all about branding. And Lunardi's (or maybe ESPN) is probably the best at it.

Tennessee wanted to throw that game away.

That Providence mascot is terrifying.