Bubble Teams 2012: Arizona Wildcats and Teams Hanging on for Dear Life

With fate and reality staring many teams right in the face, no time than now is more important for bubble teams to make the most of their situation to get one of those final spots in the 2012 NCAA tournament.

As the conference tournaments draw to a close, the field is becoming much clearer as we make our way into selection Sunday.

These four teams will need to continue to fight until the final bell rings, as their future is on the line with each passing minute.

Tennessee Volunteers

The Volunteers are still alive in the SEC, but pending some major victories over teams like Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, the team will need to continue to battle it out each night to put themselves in position to make the final cut.

The team may have to go as far as taking down perhaps either the Kentucky Wildcats or Florida Gators just to secure the automatic bid that the SEC champion would earn—but in reality that is quite a far shot.

The team would be looking to be in better shape if they can at least reach the SEC final, but without a run to that game, this situation for the Volunteers will continue to be against the ropes.

The team has all the opportunities sitting in front of them, but now is the time to take it.

Texas Longhorns

With the No. 5 Missouri Tigers coming up next, the Longhorns are in need of making a statement for their case to dance this March.

The team is right now hanging by a thread to make the tourney, but a win over the Tigers would definitely put them in a position where they couldn't be turned away.

The Big 12 has not been an easy place for any team not named the Tigers or Kansas Jayhawks, but the Longhorns have to have some hope remaining heading into this potentially decisive matchup.

The Longhorns dropped their two previous matchups to Tigers, but the last one was just by one-point. Perhaps they will find some better results the third time around, as they pretty much need that to sleep well tonight.

Miami Hurricanes

A win over the No. 17 Florida State Seminoles may seal the deal, but right now the Hurricanes are in a tough position heading into their quarterfinal matchup in the ACC tourney.

With teams like the Seminoles, UNC Tar Heels and Duke standing right in front of them, this field of eight doesn't look as appealing as one would have initially thought.

The Hurricanes have a legitimate shot to make the tournament, and while an automatic bid would be nice, we have to be realistic and see that as an extreme long shot given the obstacles that stand before them.

Claiming a victory over the Seminoles—a feat they accomplished just over a week ago at home—could cement the team's future in this year's big dance.

Arizona Wildcats

The Pac-12 field has been blown wide open, and right now it is looking like the Wildcats' tourney to lose. 

With their next matchup coming up against the Oregon State Beavers, the team should easily find themselves in the tournament's final. The only thing is, given how things have gone down thus far, it is pretty clear that anybody can win in Los Angeles.

The Wildcats and Beavers played just once this season, a game in which U of A took 81-73 in overtime. This time things likely won't be any easier, but the Wildcats will have to hope that their past victory will carry over into this one.

The rest of the field doesn't seem to pose much of a threat for the Wildcats either, as they have taken down both California Golden Bears and Colorado Buffaloes with ease this past season.

They did lose to the CU back in late January, but they bounced back the next time around to down them 71-57.

The Wildcats are in a tough spot without an automatic bid, so they better hope they can come away with the Pac-12 title.

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.
Follow @Real_Jeff_Chase