Michigan State and 10 College Hoops Powerhouses on the Tournament Bubble

It's been a while since Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans have missed the NCAA Tournament in March.

Thirteen years, as a matter of fact.

And in that span, the Spartans have been to the championship twice, winning once, and been to the Final Four a total of six times.

And yet, as Bob Dylan would say, The times, they are a-changin'.

The Spartans are on the bubble.

And if they don't pull out some tough victories over the next three weeks, Izzo's club will find themselves on the outside looking in at the Big Dance.

Who else is wavering on the borderline of acceptability?

What other teams that have been tournament fixtures, or at least made regular appearances, are in danger of falling short this season.

Who is currently sitting with Michigan State in the fraternity of bubblicious splendor?

Read on...and keep in mind, the word powerhouse may be used somewhat loosely in certain instances...and this list is in no particular order, the bubble is the bubble, no matter which way you cut it.

10. Cincinnati Bearcats

RPI: 43

SOS: 134

Vs. AP Top 25: 0-4

Record: 19-6 (6-6)

Quality Wins: Xavier, not many here, as Cinci has played one of the easier schedules of the auto-bid schools.

Bad Losses: They really have no "bad" losses, as they have beaten the teams they were supposed too. However the lost to St. John's in their last outing may come back to haunt them if the selection committee has to decide between the two teams.

While the Big East has been characteristically brutal this season, the Bearcats are still only .500 in conference play. And while the Bearcats have not been a powerhouse the last couple of seasons, from 1992-2005 the Bearcats made it to the Big Dance, and were the model of consistency.

9. Oklahoma State Cowboys

RPI: 60

SOS: 74

VS. AP Top 25: 2-2

Record: 16-8 (4-6)

Quality Wins: Missouri, Alabama, Kansas State

Bad Losses: Long list here, including Texas Tech, Nebraska and Virginia Tech. Also a 23 point hammering at the hands of Texas A&M.

In the twenty years since 1991, OSU has appeared in the tournament fifteen times.

It is looking like the Cowboys may be left out this year.

Too many good teams in the Big Ten and Big East mean the Cowboys may be on the outside looking in at the Big Dance.

8. Clemson Tigers

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 19: Demontez Stitt #2 of the Clemson Tigers handles the ball against the Missouri Tigers during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at HSBC Arena on March 19, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart

RPI: 66

SOS: 107

VS. AP Top 25: 1-1

Record: 17-8 (6-5)

Quality Wins: No great wins on the Tigers record, but end of season chances against Duke and Virginia Tech, along with a run in the ACC tourney would really help out Clemson.

Bad Losses: Old Dominion, Virginia, Michigan

Clemson has some work to do, but with the bubble being extremely soft this year, a berth in the tournament is not out of the scope of plausibility.

7. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 23: Elias Harris #20 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shoots over Jimmy Butler #33 of the Marquette Golden Eagles during the CBE Classic consolation game on November 23, 2010 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jam

RPI: 74

SOS: 81

VS. AP Top 25: 1-4

Record: 17-9 (7-3)

Quality Wins: Marquette, Baylor, Xavier

Bad Losses: Washington State, Santa Clara, Memphis

Gonzaga spent so long being the supposed Cinderella of the Big Dance, that we sometimes forget that they have been there each of the last ten seasons, and 11 out of the last twelve.

The 'Zags, gut-wrenching loss to conference leading Saint Mary's means they will have to win out or win the WCC tourney to be invited this season.

6. Marquette Golden Eagles

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 23: Mangisto Arop #10 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs passes as Vander Blue #2 of the Marquette Golden Eagles defends during the CBE Classic consolation game on November 23, 2010 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo b

RPI: 86

SOS: 24

VS. AP Top 25: 2-9

Record: 15-11 (6-7)

Quality Wins: West Virginia, Notre Dame, Syracuse

Bad Losses: Marquette has no remarkably bad losses, however their loss to St. John's last time out, once again, could come back to bite them.

Wonder frosh Vander Blue has slowed down as the season has progressed, but their is still time for the Eagles to bolster their resume against the likes of UCONN.

5. Illinois Fighting Illini

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 13: Demetri McCamey #32 of the Illinois Fighting Illini goes to the basket against the Purdue Boilermakers at Assembly Hall on February 13, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Purdue defeated Illinois 81-70. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty I

RPI: 55

SOS: 20

VS. AP Top 25: 1-4

Record: 16-9 (6-6)

Quality Wins: North Carolina, Wisconsin, @Minnesota

Bad Losses: No doubt, a loss to 7-20 University of Illinois Chicago has to be the low spot so far this season, with a loss to Indiana not far behind.

The Illini have not lived up to their pre-season billing, especially guard Demetri McCamey, and things do not look up for them in the next few weeks as they have to travel to meet two of the conference leaders in Ohio State and Purdue.

The Illini will most likely need a deep run in the conference tourney to punch their ticket to the dance.

4. UCLA Bruins

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Ben Howland of the UCLA Bruins in action during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on December 2, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

RPI: 35

SOS: 48

VS. AP Top 25: 1-2

Record: 18-7 (9-3)

Quality Wins: BYU, St. John's

Bad Losses: VCU, Montana

The Bruins are starting to get things figured out in the conference.

With five wins in a row now, Ben Howland and co. have road trips to Stanford and Cal before heading home for two in a row against the Arizona schools.

The Bruins are currently sitting on the good side of the bubble, but two losses out of the next four would have them right back to the bad side.

3. St. John's Red Storm

Nick Laham/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: Dwight Hardy #12 of the St. John's Red Storm fakes in front of Kyle Singler #12 of the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

RPI: 33

SOS: 2

VS. AP Top 25: 4-5

Record: 16-9 (8-5)

Quality Wins: WVU, Notre Dame, Duke, UCONN, Georgetown

Bad Losses: St. Bonaventure, Fordham, Cincinnati

St. John's appeared 15 times in the tournament from '77-'93, but has been absent since 2002.

The Red Storm have been an enigma this season, shocking some highly ranked teams, while losing to the likes of Fordham.

With one more win over either Pitt or 'Nova, the Red Storm can rest easy, knowing they will be in the dance.

2. Tennessee Volunteers

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 08: Bruce Pearl the Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team during the SEC game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on February 8, 2011 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 73-61. (Photo by

RPI: 47

SOS: 1

VS. AP Top 25: 3-3

Record: 15-10 (5-5)

Quality Wins: Nova, Pitt, Vandy

Bad Losses: Oakland, Charlotte

The Volunteers have dropped three in a row, but only meet two ranked opponents in their last six games.

Should the Volunteers win out, or make a run in the conference tourney, they will be in, no problem.

But a couple of losses down the stretch could make their bid a little dicey going into Selection Sunday.

1. Michigan State Spartans

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INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 03: Durrell Summers #15 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against the Butler Bulldogs during the National Semifinal game of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship on April 3, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana

RPI: 79

SOS: 4

VS. AP Top 25: 3-7

Record: 14-11 (6-7)

Quality Wins: Minnesota, Wisconsin

Bad Losses: Iowa, Michigan, Penn State

MSU started the season as the #2 team in the AP poll.

My how things change!

The Spartans are not even at .500 in the conference, and have battled with dismissals, lack of chemistry and inexperience all season.

They are still a threat to win the Big Ten tourney, and have a couple of chances to improve their resume over the next couple of weeks, but if their has ever been a team with it's back against the wall at this point in the season, it is the Spartans.