Saturday was the biggest day yet this season for bubble teams in college basketball. There's a lot of games, and it can be hard to track all of them and keep a grip on what so many wins and losses mean. We're doing the work for you. To get a better idea of how teams helped or hurt themselves, scan the results below. As always, be sure to take a tour of our Bracketology hub as well.
WINNERS
Off the bubble ... for now (the good version)
Iowa State (RPI: 52, KenPom: 26, Sagarin: 22): The Cyclones (14-8) beat Kansas for the biggest win of the day and one of the most valuable this season by going into Allen Fieldhouse and somehow leaving with a 92-89 overtime win. This was only the 10th loss Bill Self ever has had at The Phog and ended KU's 51-game home winning streak. Steve Prohm's team still has a lot of work to do, but this victory separates them from the noise for now. That changes if Iowa State can't get the job done in its next game. NEXT UP: at Texas on Tuesday.
Xavier (RPI: 15, KenPom: 29, Sagarin: 25): The Musketeers (17-6), like Iowa State, went on the road and picked up a massive win. Xavier 82, Creighton 80. Huge for Chris Mack's crew. Xavier has a good record, but lacked wins over tournament-bound teams. No more. Sometimes, getting a legitimate resume takes until February. That Creighton played without Mo Watson Jr. doesn't matter -- because Xavier played without Edmond Sumner, who is done for the year. NEXT UP: vs. DePaul on Wednesday.
Stayed on the bubble thanks to victory
Syracuse (RPI: 84, KenPom: 50, Sagarin: 41): The Orange (15-9), who I left for dead two weeks ago, have won four straight, including wins over Wake Forest and NC State, both fellow bubble teams. Syracuse's home win over Virginia was the necessary victory to vault this team into the at-large conversation. The Orange have to keep doing this, because they don't have one worthwhile win in nonconference play. NEXT UP: at Clemson on Tuesday.
Kansas State (RPI: 53, KenPom: 28, Sagarin: 34): The Wildcats (16-7) earned the second-most impressive win of the day by snapping a three-game skid in an upset of No. 2 Baylor -- in Waco. Bruce Weber scheduled one of the worst nonconference slates this season, but now he has wins over West Virginia and Baylor. This is becoming an intriguing team, but can it do the unthinkable and beat two top-five teams back to back? NEXT UP: vs. Kansas on Monday.
Miami (RPI: 74, KenPom: 41, Sagarin: 35): The Hurricanes (15-7) won 84-79 at NC State, likely killing off the Wolfpack in the process. But remember, this team is still 1-7 against the eight best opponents it's faced. A lot left to prove, but winning on Saturday was a step in the right direction. Road victories carry weight. NEXT UP: vs. Virginia Tech on Wednesday.
Seton Hall (RPI: 48, KenPom: 53, Sagarin: 56): The Pirates (14-8) got a career-best 26 points and 17 rebounds from Angel Delgado, and Desi Rodriguez hit the winning shot in a 68-66 win at Georgetown, which is now in a tight spot. This was Seton Hall's first Big East road W. Delgado, averaging 13.1 boards, is the nation's leading rebounder. NEXT UP: vs. Providence on Wednesday.
Minnesota (RPI: 23, KenPom: 40, Sagarin: 42): The Golden Gophers (16-7) stop a five-game skid beating Illinois 68-59 to kick off a very winnable stretch. An NCAA Tournament berth is very probable -- as long as they don't take any more bad losses. NEXT UP: vs. Iowa on Wednesday.
Wake Forest (RPI: 32, KenPom: 34, Sagarin: 45): The Demon Deacons (14-9) are loved by the metrics but lack, for me, enough high-quality wins to validate them as a NCAA Tournament team. Still, beating Georgia Tech 81-69 on Saturday keeps them in the mix. One of the biggest unknowns in the bubble pool right now. NEXT UP: at Notre Dame on Tuesday.
VCU (RPI: 31, KenPom: 47, Sagarin: 47): The Rams (18-5) got a controversial win on Saturday night at St. Bonaventure, a victory I noted Friday the Atlantic 10 needed. Welp ... it happened! VCU 83, Bona 77, in overtime. The A-10 is flirting with being only a two-bid league this season. Rams definitely have the talent to win in March. NEXT UP: at George Washington on Wednesday.
TCU (RPI: 43, KenPom: 33, Sagarin: 40): The Horned Frogs (16-7) beat Texas 78-63 on Saturday, giving the program its first sweep of the Horns in three decades. TCU still has to beef up the upper portion of its resume, but what a first season for Jamie Dixon. TCU last made the NCAAs in 1998 . NEXT UP: vs. Texas Tech on Tuesday.
New to the bubble after winning Saturday
Oklahoma State (RPI: 35, KenPom: 19, Sagarin: 27): The Cowboys (15-8) have gone from dangerous NIT candidate to legitimate NCAA Tournament sleeper. OSU won 82-75 at West Virginia on Saturday, and are now in the mix. They've won five straight, and their overall resume includes seven wins away from home. Welcome to the party, Pokes. NEXT UP: vs. Baylor on Wednesday.
Texas Tech (RPI: 87, KenPom: 42, Sagarin: 44): The Red Raiders (16-7) managed to get a home win over Oklahoma, which is necessary to keeping TTU in the at-large pool. No team -- none -- has a worse out-of-league strength of schedule. Because of this, Tech will need to finish above .500 in the Big 12 to have any shot at getting in. Right now it's 4-6. NEXT UP: at TCU on Tuesday.
Wichita State (RPI: 67, KenPom: 16, Sagarin: 20): The Shockers (21-4) are, for the second straight season, setting up an interesting test case for the selection committee. Wichita State's RPI isn't healthy right now, but other metrics suggest WSU is a sure-fire at-large candidate. On Saturday night, they smeared Illinois State by the outrageous score of 86-45. Shockers likely cannot afford to lose again, before the MVC tournament. NEXT UP: vs. Missouri State on Thursday.
Auburn (RPI: 77, KenPom: 82, Sagarin: 77): The Tigers (14-8) claw their way, barely, onto the surface of the bubble by winning at Alabama on Saturday night. Bruce Pearl's team has swept the Tide, plus defeated Texas Tech, another bubble team. Tigers have a super steep climb, though. NEXT UP: vs. Mississippi State on Tuesday.
LOSERS
Off the bubble ... for now (the bad version)
NC State (RPI: 83, KenPom: 90, Sagarin: 73): This could be it for the Wolfpack (14-10). Mark Gottfried's team fell at home 84-79 to a Miami team that was also in a spot of needing a win. After starting 11-2, NC State is 3-8 in the ACC, making that win at Duke an aberration. Massively disappointing team. NEXT UP: at Florida State on Wednesday.
Georgia (RPI: 51, KenPom: 49, Sagarin: 53): The Bulldogs (13-10) are probably done for good, though a big winning streak could get them back in the mix. Mark Fox's team almost knocked off Kentucky at Rupp earlier this week, and on Saturday UGA fell by two at South Carolina. NEXT UP: vs. Florida on Tuesday.
Georgetown (RPI: 54, KenPom: 58, Sagarin: 49): The Hoyas (13-11) are now going to be fighting to get into the NIT. By blowing a home game (and making only 1 of 20 3-pointers) against Seton Hall, the losses are overwhelming the fact G'town's beaten Oregon, Syracuse, Creighton and Butler. And it doesn't get any easier. Tuesday's game will determine if Georgetown has any shot of getting an at-large. NEXT UP: at Villanova on Tuesday.
Illinois (RPI: 58, KenPom: 81, Sagarin: 72): The Illini (13-11) are one of many teams that took devastating losses Saturday. Illinois couldn't get the job done at home -- against a fellow bubble team -- and that makes it even tougher to swallow. This team will now fight for an NIT bid. NEXT UP: at Northwestern on Tuesday.
Tennessee (RPI: 36, KenPom: 38, Sagarin: 51): The Volunteers (13-10) hopped onto the radar with that win over Kentucky on Jan. 24, but you can't realistically have the Vols anywhere near the field at this point, even if their computer numbers are strong. Tennessee fell 64-59 at Mississippi State on Saturday, and Rick Barnes' team needs at least two more top-50 type wins. NEXT UP: vs. Ole Miss on Wednesday.
Utah (RPI: 75, KenPom: 45, Sagarin: 39): The Utes (15-8) got swept in the Bay Area. First was the double-OT loss at Cal on Thursday, and then Saturday's 81-75 outcome against average Stanford. I can't have the Utes anywhere near field at this point, no way. Terrible non-conference schedule and not one great win. The team has seven regular season games left. It needs to win five of those seven to have even a chance at an at-large by the start of Pac-12 play. In the NCAA committee's eyes, Utah isn't 15-8, it's 13-8, because two wins came against non-Division I opponents. NEXT UP: vs. Washington State on Thursday.
Valparaiso (RPI: 57, KenPom: 93, Sagarin: 76): The Crusaders (19-5) took a 17-point loss at Green Bay on Saturday. Valpo could be a March darling, but in at-large terms, this team has three sub-100 losses and hasn't defeated a top-40 opponent. It will probably only, faintly, have an at-large hope with one more loss, and that loss coming in the league title game. NEXT UP: vs. Cilleveland State on Thursday.
Still on bubble, despite losing Saturday
Georgia Tech (RPI: 69, KenPom: 77, Sagarin: 78): The Yellow Jackets (13-10) have really nice wins (UNC, Florida State, Notre Dame), but they've all come at home. Having 10 losses is also very problematic. If they'd won at Wake on Saturday, it would've been a real conversation about putting them in the field. For now, they're in uncertain waters but definitely still on the bubble because of those massive Ws. NEXT UP: vs. Boston College on Saturday.
Michigan (RPI: 62, KenPom: 36, Sagarin: 31): The Wolverines (14-8) had the trifecta of awful for any bubble team. First, you lose at home. Second, you lose at home to your rival. Third, you lose at home to your rival, who's not even good enough to be on the bubble Ohio State 70, Michigan 66. Ay yi yi. Problematic for the Wolverines, whose three best wins are Marquette, SMU and Indiana. That's merely OK. NEXT UP: vs. Michigan State on Tuesday.
Arkansas (RPI: 28, KenPom: 52, Sagarin: 43): The Razorbacks (17-6) just did what no other team from a multi-bid conference pulled off this season. They lost to Missouri. An 83-78 outcome was Mizzou's first win in almost two months to the day. This hurts the Hogs' case, especially since they lack a top-30 win.. NEXT UP: vs. Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
Illinois State (RPI: 33, KenPom: 47, Sagarin: 46): The Redbirds (19-5) took a hideous 41-point loss on the road against Wichita State on Saturday, but the team was also without arguably its best player, MiKyle McIntosh. He'll be back for March. If ISU wins out in the regular season, this team will have a solid chance at getting an at-large. If it doesn't lose again until the MVC title game, could make for an interesting decision. NEXT UP: at Drake on Tuesday.
Alabama (RPI: 66, KenPom: 62, Sagarin: 62): The Crimson Tide (13-8) did what Michigan did on Saturday. The awful trifecta. Lose at home to a rival who's below you in the at-large pecking order. This is barely a bubble team, but at this point the teams in the greater conversation could flip within a week's time. A loss Tuesday, and Bama's off the board. NEXT UP: at South Carolina on Tuesday.
