BubbleFest '09

Time to turn up the volume.

There hasn't been much noise on the Bubble this week, just a few off notes here and there (St. Mary’s losing, Butler stealing a bid, A&M’s stunning choke last night). But Thursday's action will kick it up a few decibels. No less than 23 of the teams profiled in Monday's State of the Bubble Nation hit the hardwood today, as major conference tournaments take center stage. Here’s the setlist:

• Providence vs. Louisville (12:00, ESPN) – A win and Providence is in. I tend to rate them more highly than others, but a loss would put them at less than even odds to Dance.


• Northwestern v. Minnesota (12:00) – An elimination game, with the losing team almost certainly NIT-bound. On the flip side, a win would likely clinch a bid for the Gophers, while Northwestern might need a win and more.


• Miami v. Virginia Tech (12:00, ESPN 360) – Lose and go to the NIT. As simple as that.


• Mississippi v. Kentucky (1:00, ESPN 360) – Kentucky’s hopes are slimmer than slim, as they’d need a run to the SEC championship game just to be considered. Even that might not be enough, but either way, a loss here, and their 17-year run of Tourney appearances ends for sure.


• Iowa v. Michigan (2:30, ESPN2) – Michigan should go Dancing with a win. Like A&M last night, a loss would be be a severe blow, but wouldn’t necessarily eliminate them, depending on what happens elsewhere over the next few days.


• Arizona v. Arizona State (3:00, FSN) – The Wildcats are the underdog here, so a loss might not kill off their Tourney chances, but a win would likey seal the deal.


• Texas vs. Kansas State (3:00, ESPN 360) – However unlikely KSU’s road to the Tourney is, it must start with a win against Texas.


• S. Miss. at UAB (3:30) – I was generous to include UAB on the bubble, as I’m not sure that anything short of winning the C-USA ournament (and the auto bid) gets them an at-large slot. But lose, and they’re definitely done.


• Indiana v. Penn State (5:00, ESPN2) – Must win for the Nittany Lions. Go IU.


• UNLV v. San Diego State (5:30) – Another elimination game.


• Duqesne v. Rhode Island (6:30) – Jimmy Baron and URI feel disrespected by their exclusion from Tourney talk. Their chance to prove they deserve to be considered starts, but doesn’t end, here.


• NC State v. Maryland (7:00, ESPN2) – Must win for the Terps, though they’ll likely need another.


• Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma (7:00, ESPN 360) – With the comfortable win over Iowa State yesterday, OSU is sitting pretty. A win would seal it, for sure, but no one’s going to boot them out for losing to Oklahoma.


• USC vs. California (9:00, FSN) – I probably should’ve counted Cal as a lock. Even a loss here shouldn’t knock them from the at-large field.


• Virginia v. Boston College (9:00, ESPN 360) – BC is in the driver’s seat, and a win here will clinch a bid. They could survive a loss, but it would be tight.


• Richmond v. Dayton (9:00) – Dayton’s in pole position for a bid, but a loss to the Spiders would make them vulnerable.


• Arkansas v. Florida (9:45, ESPN 360) – Billy Donovan will need to beat his former pupil, John Pelphrey, to keep the Gators alive.