Selection Sunday 2013: Bubble Teams That Will Miss out on Big Dance

With conference tournaments leading up to Selection Sunday, time is running out for teams on the bubble of qualifying for the NCAA tournament to make a last impression. 

This is all part of the March Madness package. 

Well, I don't know about you, but I am not going to wait for Sunday to figure out who is in and who is out. As I start that process, here are three teams who should switch their attention to the NIT. 

When: Sunday, March 17 at 6 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Announcers: Greg Anthony, Greg Gumbel and Seth Davis

Baylor Bears

After a run to the Elite Eight last season, Baylor won't even make the tournament this year.

The Bears went just 18-13 this season, which included a 9-9 record in the Big 12. That record includes Baylor losing eight of their last 12 games, and that is no way to get into the tournament. 

This leaves the Bears needing a deep run in their conference tournament to make the NCAA tournament, and that is not going to happen.

Baylor has been far too inconsistent this season to expect that kind of run out of them, and maybe we shouldn't be all that surprised. The Bears missed out on the tournament in 2011 after making a run to the Elite Eight the previous year. 

Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

Despite an impressive 28-5 record, the Blue Raiders will not be dancing. 

Middle Tennessee State was bounced out of the Sun Belt conference tournament by Florida International.

This is going to doom the Blue Raiders. While their record is nice and shiny, there isn't much beneath the surface. The Blue Raiders played just one team that was ranked at the time of the game. 

That came against Florida, on Nov. 18, and they were throttled, 66-45. 

The poor performance in their conference tournament is going to find the selection committee leaving the Blue Raiders on the outside looking in. 

Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama was making a strong push for NCAA tournament inclusion, until it sputtered down the stretch.

The Crimson Tide lost three of their last five games to finish at 20-11, and now they would likely need to at least make the SEC title game to go dancing.

The problem for Alabama is not just its bad finish to the season, but also its resume. 

The Crimson Tide have two terrible home losses to Mercer and Tulane. There is no bigger eyesore to the selection committee than a bad loss at home. Of course, a bad finish to the season is pretty close. As we discussed, Alabama also has this working against them. 

Don't expect any miracle runs by the Crimson Tide in the SEC tournament, and their dance card will remain unpunched as a result.