It’s the time of 12 months once more the place ESPN’s Joe Lunardi is absolutely diving deep into his well-known “Bracketology” updates that he offers each two or three days.
The most up-to-date version of Bracketology was unveiled Tuesday morning and upon wanting, there have been three groups on the bubble that, frankly, haven’t any enterprise being close to the NCAA Event, so right here they’re and here is why they do not belong.
North Carolina Tar Heels: First 4 Out
Lunardi has the Tar Heels simply barely lacking the event and it appears like complete blue blood and ACC bias.
Sure, they’re 16-11 (9-6 in ACC) this season, however who’ve they crushed? North Carolina has one win in opposition to a ranked opponent this season and that win got here all the way in which again in December in opposition to a UCLA workforce that’s not ranked anymore.
The Tar Heels are 1-10 in Quad 1 video games this season, giving them probably the most losses in Quad 1 video games by any ACC workforce. Their final two video games in opposition to ranked opponents led to losses by 17 and 20.
The one method North Carolina ought to be capable to get into the NCAA Event is that if it runs the desk and will get the automated bid from successful the ACC Event.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Final 4 In
Jon Calipari’s first season in Fayetteville has not gone in line with plan, as his Arkansas workforce sits at 15-11 (4-9 in SEC).
But by some means, even with a convention report that’s 5 video games under .500 and a report of 3-9 in Quad 1 video games, Lunardi has the Razorbacks as one of many final 4 groups in.
The Razorbacks do have high quality wins over each Michigan and Kentucky, however that is actually about it. They’ve put up a struggle in opposition to a few of the nation’s finest groups not too long ago, however nearly successful does not rely for something.
With remaining video games in opposition to No. 15 Missouri and No. 21 Mississippi State, Arkansas has an opportunity to enhance its resume a bit earlier than heading into the SEC Event. A loss to both of the 2 groups ought to knock the Razorbacks utterly off the NCAA Event bubble.
Indiana Hoosiers: Subsequent 4 Out
A report of 2-8 in a 10-game stretch and nonetheless being even near a projected event workforce is laughable, however that’s precisely the place Lunardi has Indiana.
The Hoosiers are 6-9 within the Large Ten and have only one win over a Prime 25 opponent all season lengthy. They’re 3-11 in Quad 1 video games, and so they have only one win within the final month.
Indiana ranks 14th out of 18 groups within the Large Ten in each factors per sport scored and allowed. A workforce of their caliber belongs nowhere near a event bid.
Definitely, issues might change and all three of those groups might catch fireplace earlier than seasons finish, however as of now, they shouldn’t be near consideration.
