{"id":8714514,"date":"2023-01-12T13:49:19","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T21:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/?p=8714514&preview=true&preview_id=8714514"},"modified":"2023-01-13T04:04:47","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T12:04:47","slug":"best-of-the-west-pac-12-mw-bubble-teams-must-finish-strong-for-region-to-dodge-doom-on-selection-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/2023\/01\/12\/best-of-the-west-pac-12-mw-bubble-teams-must-finish-strong-for-region-to-dodge-doom-on-selection-sunday\/","title":{"rendered":"Best of the West: Pac-12, MW bubble teams must finish strong for region to dodge doom on Selection Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two months from Selection Sunday, the outlook is somewhat bleak for college basketball in the western third of the country.<\/p>\n

ESPN’s latest Bracketology predictions show just seven NCAA Tournament bids (combined) for the Mountain West, Pac-12 and WCC.<\/p>\n

Bracket Matrix, which aggregates projections from various websites, shows the same.<\/p>\n

The CBS Sports is slightly more optimistic, with eight bids spread across the three leagues.<\/p>\n

The Athletic’s version shows the same.<\/p>\n

Slice and dice the data however you’d like. The premier basketball conferences in the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones need strong finishes from teams on the bubble — that’s Arizona State and New Mexico, Utah and UNLV, Colorado and Boise State — to avoid doom on March 12.<\/p>\n

(NET rankings through Wednesday\u2019s games)<\/p>\n

1. UCLA (14-2\/5-0 Pac-12)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/a> 2Results: beat USC 60-58Next up: vs. Utah (Thursday)NET ranking: 7Comment: The case for UCLA as a No. 1 seed remains flimsy given the Bruins’ lack of Quadrant I victories (two) compared to other teams in the mix. That could change. Or not.<\/p>\n

2. Arizona (14-2\/3-2 (Pac-12)<\/h3>\n

Last week: 1Results: beat Washington 70-67, lost to WSU 74-61Next up: at Oregon State (Thursday)NET ranking: 9Comment: Of the Wildcats’ 14 wins, five are of the Quadrant IV nature (36 percent). That will change during conference play, but perhaps not to the degree Arizona needs.<\/p>\n

3. Gonzaga (14-3\/3-0 WCC)<\/h3>\n

Last week: 3Results: won at USF 77-75 and Santa Clara 81-76Next up: at Brigham Young (Thursday)NET ranking: 12Comment: It doesn’t appear the Zags have enough schedule juice remaining to claim a No. 1 seed. That work needed to be completed in non-conference play, and they didn’t quite clear the bar.<\/p>\n

4. San Diego State (13-3\/4-0 MW)<\/h3>\n

Last week: 4Results: won at Wyoming 80-75, beat Nevada 74-65Next up: vs. New Mexico (Saturday)NET ranking: 21Comment: The sizzling Aztecs have one loss since November (to Saint Mary’s) and a defense that has held nine of the past 10 opponents under 70 points.<\/p>\n

5. Saint Mary’s (14-4\/3-0 WCC)<\/h3>\n

Last week: 5Results: beat Portland 85-43Next up: vs. LMU (Thursday)NET ranking: 11Comment: We aren’t prepared to call the Gaels a lock for the NCAAs, but that day is fast approaching.<\/p>\n

6. Arizona State (13-3\/4-1 Pac-12)<\/h3>\n

Last week: 9Results: beat WSU 77-71 and Washington 73-65Next up: at Oregon (Thursday)NET ranking: 56Comment: Every loss by San Francisco in West Coast Conference play — so far, there have been three — makes ASU’s 37-point whiff look that much worse.<\/p>\n

7. Utah (12-5\/5-1 Pac-12)<\/h3>\n

Last week: 6Results: beat OSU 79-60, lost to Oregon 70-60Next up: at UCLA (Thursday)NET ranking: 43Comment: The Utes don’t have many chances remaining for Quad I wins, but two come this weekend in L.A. They need a split, at minimum.<\/p>\n

8. New Mexico (15-2\/2-2 MW)<\/h3>\n

Last week: 7Results: lost to UNLV 84-77, beat Oral Roberts 82-75Next up: at San Diego State (Saturday)NET ranking: 49Comment: Huge game for the Mountain West on Saturday at Viejas Arena. For several reasons, the collective needs the Lobos to prevail.<\/p>\n

9. Nevada (14-4\/4-1 MW)<\/h3>\n

Last week: NRResults: won at San Jose State 67-40, lost at SDSU 74-65Next up: vs. Utah State (Friday)NET ranking: 34Comment: Who figured an 18-point home win over Sam Houston in late November would become a resume-enhancing victory.<\/p>\n

10. Colorado (11-6\/3-3)<\/h3>\n

Last week: NRResults: beat Oregon 68-41 and OSU 62-42Next up: at USC (Thursday)NET ranking: 60Comment: The selection committee might need to carve out an hour to debate CU’s resume if the Buffaloes remain relevant down the stretch.<\/p>\n