February 19th Bracket Breakdown

Mitch Light's February 19th Bracket
Jason King's February 19th National Notebook

Past Brackets:
Feb. 12th Bracket
Feb. 5th Bracket
Jan. 3rd Bracket
Preseason Bracket

ACC (7)
In: Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech

Worth a mention: Clemson, Florida State

Notes: Remarkably, Clemson could miss the NCAA Tournament after starting the season with 17 straight wins. With five wins against top 50 teams and healthy 5–4 record in true road games, the Tigers still have a very solid resume, but it’s hard to select a team that has lost five of six and seven of nine. And the losses of late have been bad — at Wake and to Maryland at home by 16 points. Georgia Tech, on the strength of a 6–7 record against top 50 clubs, sneaks into the field. Florida State has not won since upsetting Duke in Durham on Super Bowl Sunday. The injury to point guard Toney Douglas could keep this team out of the field. Maryland, which has won three in a row overall and three in a row on the road, has solidified its once-shaky resume.

America East (1)
In: Vermont

Atlantic 10 (1)
In: Xavier

Worth a mention: UMass

Notes: UMass is 19–7 overall and has won five of its last six, but the Minutemen are 0–4 against top 50 RPI teams. They do, however, have a win at surging Louisville, which is currently 51 in the RPI. 

Atlantic Sun (1)
In: ETSU

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

Worth a mention: Oklahoma

Notes: One huge win — at Texas A&M — might cancel out some bad losses (Nebraska at home, Baylor) for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders might have some warts, but there won’t be another bubble team with a win as good as their upset over A&M last Monday. Oklahoma had a bad week, losing at Iowa State and at home to Texas A&M. Oklahoma State better watch out: The Cowboys are winless in true road games, and three of their final five are away from home.  

Big East (7)
In: Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Villanova

Worth a mention: Syracuse, Providence

Notes: What a great week for Louisville. The Cards went from the NIT to safely in the field by picking up wins at Pittsburgh and Marquette. They have three regular-season games remaining (two at home) against teams with a combined Big East record of 14–24. West Virginia has a big week ahead of it with trips to Providence and Pittsburgh.

Big Sky (1)
In: Weber State

Big South (1)
In: Winthrop

Notes: Winthrop has a very good chance to make the field even if it loses in the Big South Tournament. The Eagles have four losses — vs. North Carolina in Charlotte, at Wisconsin (overtime), at Maryland and at Texas A&M. They have won at Mississippi State, Old Dominion and Missouri State.

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

Worth a mention: Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa

Notes: The Big Ten could have as many as five bubble teams heading into the final weekend of the season. Purdue has played its way into the field by winning three of its last four games. The Boilermakers are 6–6 in the Big Ten and still play Northwestern twice and Minnesota at home. This team is in great shape.

Big West (1)
In: Long Beach State

Colonial (1)
In: VCU

Worth a mention: Hofstra, Drexel, Old Dominion

Notes: Drexel picked up a huge Bracket Buster win at Creighton, the Dragons’ 12th win away from home. Still, they might not have a strong enough resume to warrant a bid. The five league losses are a bit troubling.

Conference USA (1)
In: Memphis

Horizon (1)
In: Butler

Notes: Watch out for Wright State. The Raiders aren’t in the picture for an at-large bid, but they are on top of the Horizon League and could very well win the league tournament. Butler is in no matter what happens, so a Wright State tournament win will steal a spot from a bubble team.

Ivy (1)
In: Penn

MAAC (1)
In: Marist

MAC (1)
In: Akron

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

Notes: Missouri State, seemingly a lock in recent weeks, is in a bit of trouble. The Bears’ loss at home to Winthrop did not help their cause. They close with games at Wichita State and against Drake. A split will leave MSU with an 11–7 MVC record. Bradley picked up a nice win at VCU over the weekend. The Braves have a high RPI (29) but lack quality wins (1–7 vs. top 50).

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

Notes: Not much has changed. All three teams are looking pretty good.

Northeast (1)
In: Central Conn.

OVC (1)
In: Austin Peay

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

Notes: Washington let two huge opportunities get away, losing at home to Washington State and at Pittsburgh. Oregon is struggling — with losses in five of their last six — but the Ducks close with three straight at home. They should be fine. 

Patriot (1)
In: Holy Cross

SEC: (5)
In: Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Worth a mention: Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss

Notes: The SEC went from seven bids to five in one week, with Arkansas and Georgia dropping out. And yes, I realize that last week I said Georgia’s 6–5 record in the SEC East was “too hard to ignore.” So how are the Dawgs, now 7–5, no longer in the field? They simply got passed by some bubble teams who had real strong weeks, like Texas Tech and Louisville. Mississippi State is playing very well, but the Bulldogs are lacking in big wins and have a bad RPI (68). Tennessee is still in good shape, but the Vols still have not won a road game in SEC play. Their blowout loss at South Carolina has to be a concern for Bruce Pearl. 

Southern (1)
In: Davidson

Worth a mention: Appalachian State

Notes: Appalachian State continues to make an intriguing case. The Mountaineers won at Wichita State and can also boast wins over Virginia, Vanderbilt and VCU. And their RPI (55) is very impressive for a team coming out of the SoCon.

Southland (1)
In: Texas A&M – CC

Sun Belt (1)
In: South Alabama

SWAC (1)
In: Jackson State

WAC (1)
In: Nevada

WCC (1)
In: Gonzaga