With the NCAA Tournament's dance card filling up, college basketball teams still on the bubble are running out of time to bolster their claims for a spot. For these bubble teams hoping for an at-large berth to the field of 68, the conference tournaments represent the last chance to make an impression before Selection Sunday.
For some teams, like Virginia, a run in the conference tournament could put them safely in the NCAA Tournament. While the Cavaliers have resume-building wins over Duke, N.C. State and Wisconsin (on the road), back-to-back losses to Boston College and Florida State leave them in an uncertain position as they arrive in Greensboro. Can the Cavaliers compensate for several bad losses with a few more wins at the ACC Tournament?
John Calipari's defending champion Kentucky Wildcats are also in a precarious position, even after bouncing back from bad losses to Arkansas and Georgia with a much-needed victory over No. 11 Florida. The Nerlens Noel-less Wildcats likely need another quality win to earn an at-large berth. Unfortunately, they'll need to advance deeper into the SEC Tournament to find an opponent to help their case. Even more problematic, an early SEC tourney loss to a lackluster foe could dent their hopes.
In a roller coaster 2012-2013 season when even the teams atop the weekly rankings seemed to be vulnerable to upsets on a nightly basis, it seems fitting that the reigning champs might not even reach the Big Dance. Here is a look at some of the bubble teams needing to improve their resumes in the conference tournaments. Who will make the cut?
