WBB Bubble Watch - Big 10 Circular Logic

Prior to the games today, the espn bracketology we are the first team out and the last 4 in are

1. Minnesota - #13 in the Big 10 with 0 top 25 wins and 2-7 in their last 9, 4-9 in their last 13. Somehow they are #35 in the NET going 0-6 Q1, 2-4 Q2, 2-0 Q3, and 16-0 Quad 4. They played a laughable OOC and have beaten nobody, yet the "advanced metrics" have them in the tournament. They have been carried by the "well the big 10 is good and losing to big 10 teams means you are good" logic. It's insane that you can be 2-10 in Q1/Q2 and still be #35 in the NET.

2. Iowa State - #7 in the Big 12 with 1 top 25 win (today) but have been on a 6-1 streak to close the season. They scheduled South Carolina (lost 76-36), Iowa (Lost 75-69), and Uconn (lost 101-68). They are #37 in the NET going 0-9 Q1, 3-0 Q2, 6-1 Q3, 11-0 Q4.

3. Harvard - #3 in Ivy league and 21-4 overall. Beat ranked Indiana out of conference along with BC and Northwestern. They are #36 in NET going 2-0 Q1, 1-3 Q2, 3-1 Q3, 15-0 Q4. Not many big opponents, but capitalized when they had chances and took care of business against their weak opponents. As much as I hate to say it, teams like them getting into the NCAAT is what makes march magical.

4. Princeton - #2 in Ivy League and 20-6 overall. No ranked opponents all year but did win at rutgers. Only conference losses are to columbia who placed first. #49 in the NET with 1-2 Q1, 3-2 Q2, 4-2 Q3, 12-0 Q4. Less impressive resume than Harvard.

Meanwhile VT is #8 in the ACC and 18-11 overall. OOC included a loss to iowa (71-52), win over rutgers, win @ georgia, loss to michigan. Mostly beat the teams they should in the ACC and lost to the top teams (other than GT who has been on a late slide). Currently at #47 in the NET with 1-7 Q1, 3-2 Q2, 3-1 Q3, and 10-1 Q4. Right now it feels like we have 1 extra bad loss in the ACC that is hurting us. I think we have to beat GT to have a shot or need one of the other teams on the bubble to have a collapse. We get heat for bad Q1/Q2 record, but 4-9 is way better than Minnesota.