Elite programs trying to keep NCAA bubble from bursting
The NCAA Tournament bubble is typically populated with teams from small conferences and middle-of-the-pack big conference schools.
A pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the college basketball season is also reshaping the curve.
Perennial power Duke is currently bubbling. So is North Carolina. Kentucky is so far down it can’t even see the bubble.
“The season hasn’t gone how we wanted it, but we just try to keep our head down and keep working,” Duke sophomore forward Matthew Hurt said. “Every day, don’t take a day off, try not to listen to the outside, the social media, what everyone else says but us.”
Duke entered the season with loaded expectations, as it always does. The Blue Devils had key holdovers from last year’s team and coach Mike Krzyzewski brought in another stellar recruiting class.
Duke’s season has mostly been a dud so far.
The Blue Devils are 8-8 and 6-6 in the ACC after beating North Carolina State on Saturday, a win that ended a three-game losing streak. Duke is No. 66 in the latest NET rankings — up 11 from the previous rankings — and needs a strong finish to the season to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995.
“You’ve just got to stay with it,” Krzyzewski said. “That’s what our program’s done and see what happens. Just see what happens if you do that.”
North Carolina fell flat with a chance at a resume-building win on Saturday, scoring 48 points in a loss to No. 9 Virginia. The Tar Heels failed to have a double-figure scorer for the first time since 1966, are 12-7 overall and No. 56 in the NET after going 1-6 in Quadrant 1 games.
Kentucky, at 6-13 and No. 76 in the NET, will likely need to win the SEC Tournament to join the field of 68.
On the rise
Kansas (15-7, 9-5 Big 12). Once a blueblood appearing to be in trouble, the Jayhawks have reeled off three straight wins. Kansas has some big potential resume builders after facing rival Kansas State, with games against No. 7 Texas Tech, No. 13 Texas and No. 2 Baylor to close out the regular season.
UConn (9-5, 6-5 Big East). The Huskies picked up a critical win by beating Xavier 80-72 Saturday without James Bouknight. UConn is a superb defensive team and if Bouknight is healthy, the Huskies could make a run to the field of 68.
Rutgers (12-7, 8-7 Big Ten). The Scarlet Knights were poised to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991 before the tourney was canceled last season. Rutgers may still have work to do to end the streak this season, but it has won five of six.
Oregon (12-4, 7-3 Pac-12). The Ducks were among the favorites to win the Pac-12, but they labored through injuries and two COVID19 pauses. Oregon finally had its top five scorers on the floor together in a victory over Arizona State last week and has won three straight after beating Arizona.
Fading hopes
Maryland (10-10, 4-9 Big Ten). The Terps have wins over Illinois and Wisconsin but have been inconsistent most of the season. Maryland has lost three of four and could use a strong finish in Big Ten Conference play to get off the bubble.
Drake (19-2, 10-2, Missouri Valley). Less than two weeks ago, the Bulldogs joined No. 1 Gonzaga and Baylor as Division I’s only undefeated teams and even reached the AP Top 25. Drake then lost at Valparaiso and was blown out by No. 22 Loyola Chicago. A win over the Ramblers in the rematch on Sunday was huge.
Toledo (16-6, 11-3 MAC) .A team on the NCAA Tournament bubble can’t really afford consecutive losses late in the season. The Rockets did just that against Ball State and Bowling Green in their last two games.
Stanford (13-8, 9-6). The Cardinal have wins over Alabama and UCLA on their resume, but also have losses to Arizona State and Utah. They still have chances to pick up marquee wins with No. 20 Southern California and Oregon remaining.
COYOTES 1, BLUES 0 ARIZ.» GLENDALE,
Darcy Kuemper stopped 24 shots, Clayton Keller scored and Arizona closed out its seven-game series against St. Louis with a win Monday.
The shifting dynamics of playing hockey in a pandemic led to the Blues and Coyotes playing seven straight games against each other, a first in NHL or NBA regular-season history.
BLACKHAWKS 3, RED WINGS 2, OT
DETROIT» Dominik Kubalik scored his second goal of the game 4:43 into overtime, and Chicago beat Detroit.
Kubalik and Mattias Janmark staked the Blackhawks to a twogoal lead in the first period they slowly lost before stepping up in the extra session. Kubalik slipped a shot between Thomas Greiss’ pads, finishing a 2-on-1 rush with Pius Suter late in overtime.
HURRICANES 7, BLUE JACKETS 3
N.C.» Brock McGinn and
RALEIGH,
Teuvo Teravainen scored 26 seconds apart in the second period as Carolina erased an early deficit to beat Columbus.
Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal, Nino Niederreiter and Vincent Trocheck also scored for the Hurricanes, who’ve won three games in a row.
PANTHERS 6, LIGHTNING 4
FLA.» Jonathan Hu
TAMPA, berdeau scored and led a balanced attack that included goals from six players, and Florida Panthers gained on Central Division-leading Tampa Bay.
Florida won two of the three games between the teams in five days and pulled within a point of the Lightning in the standings.
ISLANDERS 3, SABRES 1
N.Y.» Semyon Varlamov BUFFALO, stopped 20 shots, and New York extended its point streak to seven games.
Buffalo still had six regulars sidelined, including three defensemen, in returning after a coronavirus-forced break.
SENATORS 6, MAPLE LEAFS 5
TORONTO» Evgenii Dadonov scored his second goal of the game in overtime and Ottawa overcame a four-goal deficit to win for the first time in franchise history, stunning Toronto.
JETS 6, OILERS 5
ALBERTA» Blake EDMONTON,
Wheeler’s fifth goal of the season was the game-winner as Winnipeg used six tallies from six players to outlast Edmonton despite being outshot 45-24.