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Chris Graham: Is UVa. back on the NCAA bubble?

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uva-logo-new2The short answer: no, not yet, anyway. A review of the various self-appointed bracketologists still has UVa. getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament anywhere between a #9 seed and a #11 seed, which is significant because that means the Cavs are not being considered one of the final four teams into the field.

Sunday’s one-point loss at Boston College, though, has put Virginia into a couple of must-win situations, on the road Thursday at Florida State and then at home on Sunday against Maryland, which is right now listed as either one of the last four teams out of the tourney field or one of the next four teams out.

A loss at Florida State makes the regular-season finale on Sunday against the Terps into an absolute must-win, since the ‘Hoos would enter that game having lost four of its last six under that scenario, and at just 10-7 in the ACC.

A loss at FSU probably puts Virginia into a situation where it would have to win on Sunday and at least one game in Greensboro, and maybe two, if the Cavs are relegated to the play-in round on Thursday.

A win on Thursday and a loss at home on Sunday brings up that same scenario. Losses in both, and UVa. might need to win out in the ACC Tournament, or at the very least play all the way to Sunday.

Wins in the final two regular-season games puts Virginia into the ACC quarterfinals, and probably in a realm of relative safety with a 12-6 regular-season conference record, a win over Duke, a probable #1 seed, and a win on the road at Wisconsin.

There you go …

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