Source: businessinsider.com / Arizona State and head coach Bobby Hurley are hoping to be safely in the field, but the pundits are pretty well split on where they currently see the Sun Devils.

College Hoops "Bubble" Update - The Madness Begins!!!

Welcome back everyone to another updated look at how the current "bubble" situation currently stands as we enter the heart of championship week. Last night provided the first true bit of "March Madness" when heavily-favored Gonzaga squared off with Saint Mary's (CA) yet again for the WCC title & automatic bid that came along with it.

While the Gaels were showing up more and more on the "bubble" according to numerous pundits heading into last night, they were still quite a ways back from the rest of pack in bubble-land. An at-large bid still seemed highly unlikely given the fact that the Gaels only had one Quadrant 1 victory all season and that was against New Mexico State. A solid "NET" of 37 had them in the conversation, but their resume was just too bare-bones to be in serious consideration for an at-large.

Furthermore Saint Mary's had lost to Gonzaga by 48 ... yes - 48 - at home at the beginning of conference play. While the rematch on the Zags home court 11 days ago was much more competitive, it was still a 14-point win for the Zags. Add-in the fact that the Bulldogs hung 100 on Pepperdine in the WCC semifinals and actually led by over 40 points in the second half of that one and it seemed as though Gonzaga would coast yet again to another WCC tournament title.

Source: sbnation.com / Saint Mary's (CA) became the first of the 'bid thieves' after shocking Gonzaga in the WCC title game last night to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.

Instead? Saint Mary's held Gonzaga to just 47 points - that's right 47 - in an impressive 13-point win. The Gaels became the first of the so-called "bid thieves" to sneak in and "steal" a bid from what was believed to be a previous 1-bid conference. It caused the "bubble" to shrink as one less spot is now available. The shocking victory puts the Gaels in the field as a projected 12-seed at the moment, and could potentially drop Gonzaga from a 1-seed to the 2-line.

The rest of the "bubble" teams now need to root hard for teams like Buffalo & VCU. Both the Bulls and Rams should easily have at-large bids locked up no matter what, so if one - or both - were to faulter in the MAC or A-10 tournaments, it would collapse the "bubble" even more.

As it stands today, a few of these opening conference tournament games involving "bubble" teams have really become 'must-wins' in numerous scenarios.

Source: backingthepack.com / N.C. State got knocked down early in their matchup with Clemson today in the ACC tourny, but the Wolfpack were able to rally from a 16-point halftime deficit to knock off the Tigers.

As for today's games, Clemson - N.C. State in the ACC tournament may be for a spot in the field. Both of these teams are firmly on the "bubble" heading in, and with Saint Mary's taking an at-large away, this game is even more important. **UPDATE: N.C. State rallied from a 42-26 halftime deficit and overcame a lackluster first half to knock off the Tigers 59-58. It looked for most of this one that the Wolfpack were going to crash out of the ACC tournament - and most likely NCAA tournament in a blowout loss. The ferocious second half rally keeps the Wolfpack in the projected field, and the loss now leaves a long & nerve-racking wait until Sunday for Clemson.

TCU plays Oklahoma State in the opening round of the Big XII tournament as well where they will also need a win. A loss to the lowly Cowboys could spell certain doom for the Horned Frogs.

St. John's is also in action in the Big East tournament, where a loss to DePaul would significantly hurt the Red Storm's fading at-large chances. I've already discussed what each of these teams need to do this week to feel good about their prospects come Sunday. Without further ado, here is the updated college hoops "bubble":

"SHOULD BE SAFE":

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OKLAHOMA (7-11, 19-12) (38/34)

UTAH STATE (15-3, 25-6) (30/33)

IOWA (10-10, 21-10) (42/48)

MINNESOTA (9-11, 19-12) (56/43)

"LAST FOUR BYES":

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ARIZONA STATE (12-6, 21-9) (67/37)

N.C. STATE (9-9, 22-10) (32/103)

ST. JOHN'S (8-10, 20-11) (66/52)

TEMPLE (13-5, 23-8) (50/30)

"LAST FOUR IN":

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Source: homedepot.com / The Gators now find themselves in danger territory. Florida needs a win to open the SEC tournament over Arkansas, or their "bubble" may very well burst.

FLORIDA (9-9, 17-14) (33/68)

TCU (7-11, 19-12) (47/46)

BELMONT (16-2, 26-5) (45/41)

CLEMSON (9-9, 19-13) (35/49)

"FIRST FOUR OUT":

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INDIANA (8-12, 17-14) (51/82)

FURMAN (13-5, 25-7) (41/58)

TEXAS (8-10, 16-15) (39/62)

Source: twitter.com / UNC-Greensboro finds themselves firmly on the "bubble". It may be a long shot for the mid-major, but solid metrics could work in their favor...

UNC-GREENSBORO (15-3, 28-6) (58/30)

"NEXT FOUR OUT":

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OHIO STATE (8-12, 18-13) (55/74)

ALABAMA (8-10, 17-14) (58/61)

LIPSCOMB (14-2, 25-7) (48/70)

CREIGHTON (9-9, 18-13) (54/51)

"STILL ON THE RADAR":

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DAVIDSON (14-4, 23-8) (69/43)

GEORGETOWN (9-9, 19-12) (76/77)

XAVIER (9-9, 17-14) (71/84)

OREGON (10-8, 19-12) (61/66)

A couple final notes on the current "bubble" - there is definitely NOT a consensus out there in "bubble-land" amongst the pundits and expert bracket 'forecasters'. Heading into today, just about every mock bracket out there differed significantly in who each saw as "last four in", who was slated as perspective 10 & 11 seeds, and who each had as "first four out".

Source: sportsday.dallasnews.com / Shaka Smart and Texas absolutely need a victory to open the Big XII tournament over Kansas to have a chance at an at-large bid.

Texas is still showing up as an 11 in one prominent mock bracket, while they aren't even being listed in "bubble" territory at all in several other mock brackets out there. UNC-Greensboro's win over Furman in the Southern semifinals a couple of nights ago has them now in serious contention for an at-large bid. In fact, Jerry Palm/CBS has them as one of the "last four in" along with Furman. I've even seen Creighton creeping into "last four in" range in a couple of projections out there. Indiana and Ohio State continue to be divisive, and Florida is starting to look shakier and shakier.

There is much to be decided in the coming days, keep an eye out for more of the "bid thieves" who could potentially shrink the "bubble" even more, and be sure to check back for continuing coverage leading up the NCAA tournament! As always, thank you for your support, and happy reading & writing!!