Bubble Teams 2012: 10 Squads Likely to Squeak into NCAA Tournament

Beware of sharp objects.

At this point in the year, college basketball bubble teams are doing everything in their power to stay afloat. Every season, someone gets screwed over in the end, but here are the teams that will just squeak into the NCAA tournament.

10. Saint Louis

The Billikens finished the 2011-2012 campaign with a 24-6 record. In their last 15 games, they only fell three times, and one was a two-pointer at Rhode Island. While their 110th-ranked strength of schedule isn’t pretty, their 29 RPI is solid.

9. Long Beach State

Earlier in the season, Long Beach State managed to stay within single digits against North Carolina and Kansas. The 49ers suffered just a single loss in conference play and two in 2012.

Their 35 RPI and 91 SOS will be good enough.

8. Mississippi State

A five-game losing streak late in the season put the Bulldogs on the bubble after being tourney locks. They still finished with a 21-10 record in the SEC, but their 60 RPI and 76th-ranked strength of schedule are nothing to brag about.

7. Drexel

The Dragons are an insane 25-2 since December 10. Their only loss since Jan. 2 was a three-point heartbreaker to VCU. Drexel's 245th-ranked strength of schedule isn’t impressive, and neither is its 65 RPI, but it's too hot to keep out.

6. Washington

The Huskies finished first in the Pac-12 this year and posted a 21-9 record overall. They concluded the regular season with an RPI of 58 and 86th-ranked strength of schedule.

Washington only beat one team with a top-50 RPI, but I can’t see the board passing on putting Tony Wroten and Terrence Ross in front of a national audience.

5. Southern Miss

The Golden Eagles finished 24-7 on the season but struggled down the stretch. Still, their 17 RPI and 3-2 record against teams with a top-50 RPI will get them in.

Southern Miss also went 9-4 against top-100 RPI squads.

4. California

The 23-8 Bears finished second in the Pac-12 this season. Their RPI is 37 and strength of schedule is 103. If it weren’t for two straight losses to end the regular season, they’d be locks to make the tournament.

3. West Virginia

At 19-13, the Mountaineers' loss to UConn in the Big East tournament hurts, but not enough to knock them out. WVU has an RPI of 40 and 11th-ranked strength of schedule. The Mountaineers ended the year with a top-25 non-conference SOS as well.

2. Colorado State

The Rams only finished with a 19-10 record on the season, and they play in the Mountain West. Their other numbers, though, will punch them a ticket to the Big Dance.

They boast the fourth-ranked strength of schedule in the nation along with a 21 RPI.

1. Connecticut

Jim Calhoun is back, folks, and so are the UConn Huskies. Riding a three-game winning streak since their head coach’s return, they’re currently 20-12 with a 33 RPI and third-ranked strength of schedule.

And they can’t possibly keep Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond out of the NCAA tournament.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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