February 5th Bracket Breakdown

Click here to see the preseason bracket
Click here to see the January 3rd bracket
Click here to see the February 5th bracket

ACC (8)
In: Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech

Worth a mention: Georgia Tech

Notes: Maryland’s status is far from secure. The Terps are 3–5 in the league and their three wins are against Clemson and Georgia Tech (at home) and at Wake. Non-conference wins over Big Ten bubble teams Michigan State and Illinois were helpful. Georgia Tech plays five of its final eight games (including a non-conference matchup with UConn) at home. 

America East (1)
In: Vermont

Atlantic 10 (1)
In: Xavier

Worth a mention: UMass, George Washington, Rhode Island

Notes: It looks like another one-bid year for the A-10.

Atlantic Sun (1)
In: ETSU

Big 12 (6)
In: Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech

Notes: Kansas State has played its way in by winning five straight, including a huge win at Texas over the weekend. Texas Tech, on the other hand, has lost three straight. This team could use another road win in conference play.

Big East (5)
In: Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Villanova

Worth a mention: Louisville, WVU, Syracuse, Providence

Notes: There will some Big East teams with winning records in league play that do not make the field of 65. West Virginia is 7–3 in the conference but has just one win over a top 50 RPI team. Over the next eight days, the Mountaineers host Pitt and UCLA and visit Georgetown. Louisville is 6–3 in the Big East but 0–5 vs. RPI top 50.

Big Sky (1)
In: Weber State

Big South (1)
In: Winthrop

Big Ten (5)
In: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin

Worth a mention: Michigan, Purdue, Iowa

Notes: Purdue was one of the final omissions. The Boilermakers do, however, have a kind closing schedule with four of seven at home, including a final three of at Northwestern and home vs. Minnesota and Northwestern. Iowa has a winning league record (5–4) but an overall mark of 13–10 and a bad RPI (80). Michigan still has two dates with Ohio State and Michigan State.

Big West (1)
In: Long Beach State

Colonial (1)
In: VCU

Worth a mention: Hofstra, Drexel, Old Dominion

Notes: Drexel made a splash back in December with wins at Syracuse and Villanova, but the reality is that Syracuse is an NIT team and Villanova is a bubble team. The Dragons’ 9–4 record in the CAA hasn’t helped, either.

Conference USA (1)
In: Memphis

Horizon (1)
In: Butler

Ivy (1)
In: Penn

MAAC (1)
In: Loyola (Md.)

MAC (1)
In: Toledo

Mid-Continent (1)
In: Oral Roberts

MEAC (1)
In: Delaware State

MVC (3)
In: Creighton, Missouri State, Southern Illinois

Worth a mention: Bradley, Wichita State, Northern Iowa

Notes: Northern Iowa has four opportunities to make a statement — home vs. Missouri State and at Creighton, Nevada and Bradley. A 3–1 mark in those games would do wonders for the Panthers’ resume. Bradley is 7–6 in the league but only one of those wins came against a team with a winning MVC record. Wichita State let a huge opportunity pass by over the weekend, losing at home to Southern Illinois.

MWC (3)
In: Air Force, BYU, UNLV

Notes: BYU has played its way in with a 7–2 start in the MWC, but late-season trips to UNLV and Air Force could determine the Cougars’ fate.

Northeast (1)
In: Central Conn.

OVC (1)
In: Austin Peay

Pac-10 (6)
In: Arizona, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington State, 
Worth a mention: Cal, Washington

Notes: There are really no issues with the Pac-10. With a bad RIP (75), Washington (4–7 in the league) will have to get back to .500 at least, but it’s hard to find five more conference wins on its schedule.

Patriot (1)
In: Holy Cross

SEC: (6)
In: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Worth a mention: Arkansas, Ole Miss

Notes: Georgia was a tough call. The Dawgs are just 12–8 overall, but it’s hard not to include a team with a winning record (5–4) in the SEC. Arkansas is right on the cusp, but the Hogs have some work to do. Ole Miss (4–5) is one of the hottest teams in the league, and the Rebels close with four of seven at home. Notice who isn’t even worth a mention — LSU.

Southern (1)
In: Davidson

Worth a mention: Appalachian State

Notes: The Southern Conference will be a one-bid league, but Appalachian State (14–5, 53 RPI) deserves a mention — thus, its appearance in ‘worth a mention.’

Southland (1)
In: Texas A&M – CC

Sun Belt (1)
In: South Alabama

SWAC (1)
In: Jackson State

WAC (1)
In: Nevada

Worth a mention: New Mexico State

Notes: The Aggies have a gaudy record (17–4, 8–1) but it’s hard to find quality wins. They likely will need a win at Nevada and a strong showing in the WAC Tournament.

WCC (1)
In: Gonzaga