College Basketball: 10 Teams That Are on the Bubble

College basketball fans know the routine.

This time of the year is when we start talking about "March Madness." With the Ides of March upon us, the talk around the landscape of the sport centers around two questions: Who is in? and, Who is out?

Most of the conversations dominate around the second question: Who is out? That is when you hear the word bubble; which refers to teams needing help to make the NCAA Tournament.

Several teams throughout the country fit the description. Injuries, losing streaks, dissension and just plain bad luck are some of the reasons why some teams are on the bubble.

Here are 10 college basketball teams that are definitely bubble teams.

Enjoy. 

10. UCLA Bruins

You cannot help but feel sorry for UCLA Bruins' head coach Ben Howland (pictured).

Howland is one of the best coaches in the game, but he faces a monumental task of getting the Bruins to the tournament.

Currently, they are 15-12 overall, however, UCLA is 8-5 in the Pac-10, and trails co-leaders—California and Washington—by 3.5 games.

The Bruins, with an NCAA-leading 11 championships, made the tournament a year ago, but are on the outside looking in.

Even if the Bruins win their last four regular season games (at Arizona State, at Arizona, Washington State home and Washington home) it may not be enough, unless they make a deep run in the conference tournament.

UCLA has not won the Pac-10 postseason tournament since 2008.

Without a doubt, UCLA are on the bubble.

9. West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia is in big trouble.

The Mountaineers were blown out at home against Notre Dame (Fighting Irish) on Wednesday night 71-44; dropping their record to 17-11 overall and 7-8 in the Big East Conference.

The 27-point blowout loss does not look good at this time of the season. West Virginia has lost six of its last eight games, and has lost momentum going down the stretch.

With only one win (Georgetown) over a ranked opponent, the Mountaineers will have to win their last three games—Marquette, DePaul and at South Florida—and win at least two games in the postseason conference tournament to make amends.

Greg Jones (pictured) has been a saviour for West Virginia, but has had little help, other than Dwayne "Truck" Bryant.

West Virginia's recent swoon may have dampened its chances of a fifth-straight NCAA-bid.

8. Texas Longhorns

J'Covan Brown (pictured) has been Mr. Everything for the Texas Longhorns.

Brown is averaging 19.7 points and has carried the Longhorns all season. Unfortunately, Brown has been unable to carry Texas to the top of the standings in the Big 12.

Texas (17-11 overall and 7-8 Big 12) is in danger of missing out of the NCAAs for the first time since 1998. The Longhorns will probably need to win two of their remaining three games, and win one or two in the Big 12 tournament to keep their streak alive.

7. Stanford Cardinal

Stanford Cardinal head coach Johnny Dawkins has a reason to be frightened.

The Cardinal (18-9) have a respectable record, but they have no wins over a top-25 team. Their best win was a 76-72 win over North Carolina State in early December. However, Stanford looked good in a 69-63 loss over then-No. 5-ranked Syracuse (Orangemen)—who went on to No. 1 in the standings.

Stanford needs help. The Cardinal's resume is bad, and if they are to make the NCAAs, they will have to win their remaining three games, plus make it to the Pac-10 conference championship game to impress the selection committee.

6. Northwestern Wildcats

Talk about a team with bad luck.

The Northwestern Wildcats (16-11) have never been to the NCAA Tournament in school history.

Optimism was high after a three-game winning streak to open February, but the Wildcats have dropped three of their last four games, including a hard-breaking 67-55 home overtime loss to the Michigan Wolverines. A win over the 11th-ranked Wolverines would have been huge. Northwestern already has beaten sixth-ranked Michigan State once.

A win at home against eighth-ranked Ohio State on Feb. 29 is a must. Then, the Wildcats will probably need to win two games in the upcoming Big Ten tournament to have a possible chance.

5. Xavier Musketeers

The Musketeers of Xavier are desperately trying to make amends for their midseason collapse.

Xavier was ranked 14th in the preseason and was seemingly headed for a great season until a fight against crosstown-rival Cincinnati (Bearcats) in an early-December win turned the Musketeers' season upside down.

Not only did Xavier drop out of the top 25, but it dropped out of sight. They have gone 9-9 since and are trying to keep their NCAA Tournament streak alive (six straight).

The Musketeers are currently 8-5 in the Atlantic 10 (17-10 overall), but will need to win at least two of their three remaining games—plus they could help their case with a signature win in the Atlantic 10 tournament.

Xavier has always been capable of pulling off upsets in the tournament, but unless the Musketeers find a way to get back to their early season success, they may miss out of March Madness.

4. North Carolina State Wolfpack

If the North Carolina State Wolfpack miss the tournament, they can look back to Feb. 16 as the reason why.

North Carolina State had a 20-point early second half lead at fifth-ranked Duke (Blue Devils). The Wolfpack allowed the Blue Devils to dig themselves out of the 20-point deficit, and would go on to lose at Cameron Indoor Stadium 78-73.

The loss was big for North Carolina State, as the Wolfpack have now dropped three ACC games in a row and their record stands at 18-10 overall; 7-6 in conference play.

All is not lost for North Carolina State. The remaining schedule is favorable (at Clemson, home to Miami and at Virginia Tech). Two wins, plus one in the ACC tournament, will solidify their chances greatly.

3. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State Bulldogs' head coach Rick Stansbury needs a prayer right now.

The Bulldogs (19-9) have lost four consecutive games and are slowly losing their grip on an NCAA bid.

Stansbury and the Bulldogs were ranked 20th in the Associated Press Top 25 the week of February 6th, but have gone in the opposite direction since. The first three losses of the recent losing streak were to Georgia (overtime), LSU (overtime) and Auburn.

This past Tuesday, the Bulldogs let a 13-point second half lead slip away to No. 1 Kentucky (Wildcats). Mississippi State would go on to lose 73-64.

They have dropped out of the top 25 and have fallen to sixth place in the SEC (6-7 conference). On top of that, starter Rodney Hood was injured in the Kentucky loss. His status is day-to-day.

Mississippi State has a favorable schedule the rest of the way: at Alabama, at South Carolina and home to Arkansas. The Bulldogs will need to win at two of those games and at least one in the SEC tournament to have a chance.

The talent is there in Starkville (MS)–the question is, can the Bulldogs rediscover it?

2. Colorado Buffaloes

Although the Colorado Buffaloes are 18-8 overall and 10-4 in the Pac-10, they can ill-afford to look down or away from any team the rest of the season.

Yes, the Buffaloes are playing well enough to be considered for an NCAA-bid, but their resume is not that impressive. They have no wins over a ranked team and they have several bad losses. One of them was a 20-point blowout loss at Stanford (84-64).

With the Pac-10 down this season, there is no guarantee that the conference will get multiple bids. However, Colorado can help itself with a win over conference-leading California on Feb. 26.

The Buffaloes could use that win plus a few in the Pac-10 tournament to help their chances.

1. UConn Huskies

The defending champs, the UConn Huskies lead the list of teams that need help to make the tournament.

UConn (17-10 overall and 7-8 Big East) needs a miracle in hopes of defending its title.

The Huskies entered the year 2012 at 12-1 and looked like they could repeat. However, not much has gone right since then. UConn is 5-9 and has lost four straight Big East games to ranked teams (Georgetown, Louisville, Syracuse and Marquette).

UConn has wins over three ranked teams: Florida State, Harvard and Notre Dame. The Huskies will get a rematch with Syracuse this Saturday—a home win will boost their chances greatly. Two wins in the Big East tournament will be hard for the committee to ignore the Huskies.

The Huskies have won three championships (1999, 2004 and 2011). Since 1990, the Huskies have missed the NCAAs five times (1993, 1997, 2001, 2007 and 2010).

If the defending champs are to make another improbable run in the tournament, they will need to bounce back before Selection Sunday.