What about State? Life on the NCAA bubble is like a ride on a roller coaster. N.C. State was at a crest after its win on the road at North Carolina mid-week, and then at a valley after its double-digit loss at Boston College on Saturday.
The Pack (17-12, 8-8 ACC) still has the resume of an NCAA at-large team, maybe not the win-loss record, but with an RPI of 52, BPI of 41 and KenPom rating of 43, eh … there’s still work to do.
What looks good for State: 3-4 record vs. the RPI Top 25, 5-5 record vs. the RPI Top 50, home win over Duke, right now a #1 national seed.
What looks so-so: 5-7 in their last 12.
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi still lists State as being in the tourney field in his rendering of Selection Sunday, and not even among the last four in.
The Wolfpack would be well-advised to win out this week (at Clemson, Syracuse at home) and win at least one in Greensboro to get to 20 to feel good about the news it will hear on Selection Sunday.
Raising ‘Canes: Lunardi has Miami (18-11, 8-8 ACC) among his “next four out,” between five and eight resumes away from getting an NCAA bid.
Miami’s resume isn’t as strong as N.C. State’s – 69 RPI, 53 BPI, 66 KenPom.
What looks good for the ‘Canes: the 16-point win at Duke, right now a #1 national seed.
What looks OK: 6-6 in their last 12.
What looks bad: that 28-point home loss to Eastern Kentucky.
Miami can’t afford a hiccup this week (at Pitt, at Virginia Tech), and may need to win two in Greensboro to feel good going into Selection Sunday.
Pitt done? The Panthers (19-11, 8-8 ACC) are also on Lunardi’s “next four out” list, somehow (41 RPI, 75 BPI, 76 KenPom).
Losing at Wake Forest Sunday night did not help their cause at all.
What looks good for Pitt: home wins over Notre Dame, UNC.
What looks OK: 7-5 in their last 12.
What looks not so good: 2-7 vs. the RPI Top 50, best road win at Syracuse (RPI 57), two sub-150 RPI losses.
Pitt has Miami at home on Wednesday and finishes at Florida State on Saturday. Honestly, anything short of playing in Greensboro on Saturday results in the Panthers getting a home game in the NIT.
– Column by Chris Graham
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