Written by DAVE SKRETTA, AP Basketball Writer

Many men’s college basketball teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble were uncertain about the implications of Drake’s victory against Indiana State in the Missouri Valley Tournament on Monday.

Did the Sycamores meet the criteria for an at-large bid? Would the Bulldogs still qualify if they lost?

As multiple conferences start their own tournaments on Tuesday and Wednesday, equal attention will be paid to the teams striving to qualify for the field of 68 as well as those currently ranked in the Top 25. With each passing day, teams teetering on the edge of the bubble will closely monitor nationwide results and analyze their position.

Coach Jerome Tang from Kansas State shared that his team has been closely observing various conference tournaments. He mentioned a specific instance where East Tennessee State was able to turn around a 20-point deficit and win in overtime. He also mentioned seeing the players from Chattanooga overcome with emotion as their season came to an end. This highlights the intense and final nature of these tournaments.

“What can be truly beneficial during this time is considering whether these individuals desire to continue spending time together. Do they genuinely enjoy each other’s company and wish for this experience to continue? If so, they will do everything in their power to prolong it.”

The Wildcats (18-13), with three victories against top-10 teams including a recent win against Iowa State, may have the opportunity to advance by winning a few games as the No. 10 seed. Their first matchup in the Big 12 tournament was against Texas on Wednesday evening.

Additionally, Oklahoma (20-11) is fighting for a spot in the Big 12 conference and will face TCU in a second-round game on the same day.

“The Big 12 is truly unique in this aspect,” Tang stated. “Every match feels like a high-stakes NCAA Tournament game and I believe that every team, regardless of their ranking, is approaching each game as if it’s their final one. The level of significance is immense for all of us.”

ACC TOURNAMENT

There are several teams in the ACC that fall into the same category – Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Clemson, and Syracuse – meaning they have a strong chance of making the NCAA tournament, but a couple of wins in Washington, D.C. would make them feel even more confident.

The Hokies of Virginia Tech (18-13) are currently in a desperate situation. They will face Florida State in the second round on Wednesday and must make it to the championship game in order to have a shot at securing an at-large berth.

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

St. John’s is among the top-performing teams in the country, according to coach Rick Pitino, who previously expressed frustration with them. With a five-game winning streak, the Red Storm (19-12) have improved their chances of making it to the NCAA tournament and are now on the bubble. They will face Seton Hall, another potential bubble team, in the second round of the intense Big East tournament as the No. 5 seed on Thursday.

St. John’s and Seton Hall (20-11), as well as No. 7 seed Providence (19-12), will all be vying for a spot in the field this week.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT

Purdue and Illinois are both aware that they have secured a spot in the upcoming dance. As for the other teams, beginning with third-seeded Nebraska, there are a total of eight teams with a minimum of 18 regular-season wins. This week in Minneapolis, each of these teams has the potential to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

Northwestern and Michigan State, as well as the Huskers, can be confident about their likelihood of success. However, their prospects may become more uncertain if other teams in the conference, like Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, and Minnesota, start to accumulate victories.

PAC-12 TOURNAMENT

Last week, Utah (18-13) suffered two losses which jeopardized their chances of receiving an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament. This dropped the Utes to the No. 6 seed and they will now face Arizona State in the first round of the final Pac-12 Tournament. Another loss could greatly benefit Oregon (20-11) or Colorado (22-9) in securing their own spot in the NCAA Tournament.

SEC TOURNAMENT

While the Big 12 has rightfully earned a reputation as the nation’s toughest league, the SEC has not been far behind this season, and that could be reflected in the NCAA tourney. Tennessee, Kentucky, Auburn, Alabama, South Carolina and Florida are locks heading to Nashville, while Mississippi State (19-12), Ole Miss (20-11) and Texas A&M (18-13) could give the league up to nine bids.

OTHER TOURNAMENTS

The Mountain West conference has been quietly establishing itself as one of the strongest in the country. Teams like San Diego State, Utah State, Nevada, and Boise State have impressive victories and advanced statistics, making them strong candidates for at-large bids. Colorado State and New Mexico could potentially secure six spots in the field of 68, possibly surpassing the number of spots for the Pac-12 or ACC.

If their league tournaments are unsuccessful, other teams that may qualify for at-large bids are McNeese State (28-3) from the Southland conference, Princeton (24-3) from the Ivy League, and Grand Canyon from the WAC.

James Madison, with a record of 30-3, emerged victorious in the Sun Belt conference tournament on Monday evening, helping out all the teams on the bubble.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Source: wralsportsfan.com