Selection Sunday has arrived and the mid majors have some good BCS conference teams on the bubble heading into the big college basketball announcements. According to ESPN on March 16, there are 17 teams sitting on the bubble and that makes the competition strong for a chance in the 2013 March Madness brackets. Here is a look some of at the BCS conference teams and their chances to make the Big Dance.
The SEC (click here) and Big 12 (click here) are represented in their own articles.
Virginia Cavaliers (21-11) - There are four teams from the ACC already heading to March Madness, and Virginia hopes to make it five. The Cavaliers have won 21 games but opinions are divided on the team. Virginia has quality wins that gives them a chance on Selection Sunday, but also lost some inexplicable game along the way. They are a true bubble team, but one that probably won't make it.
Minnesota Golden Gophers (20-12) - While Minnesota has one less loss than Virginia, they are a better bet to make the tournament this year based on strength of schedule, with the third toughest in the nation. A loss to Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten tournament might hurt them, but Illinois is a lock and Minnesota's success despite the tough schedule might convince the committee on Selection Sunday.
Iowa Hawkeyes (21-12) - The Iowa Hawkeyes have more wins that Minnesota, but their 129th ranked strength of schedule and horrible low RPI (79th) works against them. They lost to Minnesota, which should put them below the bubble, and while they have a bright future, it won't help them this Selection Sunday.
Arizona State Sun Devils (21-12) - The Pac-12 were recently considered the worst of the major college basketball conferences. They have made a wonderful turnaround and have five teams headed to the Big Dance. A sixth team, Arizona State, also wants in but has some work to do. The Sun Devils actually led UCLA in the Pac-12 tournament by 15, but collapsed and lost. With a 6-8 record against the Top 100, they might have shot themselves in the foot.
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