It’s the final week of the regular season and there are a lot of teams that still have some work to do to secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Here are six teams that could use another big win or two to get out of the woods or stay out of the bubble as selection Sunday approaches.
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Why don’t we start here? As the last undefeated team, it only makes sense for the Redhawks to finish first.
Like we said last week, a trip to the NCAA Tournament isn’t guaranteed by any means — which sounds crazy considering they haven’t lost a game yet. The RedHawks are just one win away from completing a perfect season, and they’ve already won the MAC regular-season title. But without any truly impressive wins, and after a lot of very close situations along the way, there’s still a lot of questions about how good they actually are.
Yes, an unbeaten record wherever achieved deserves a lot of credit. If the Redhawks can enter the NCAA Tournament as a double-digit seed, they certainly have the ability to make a splash in the NCAA Tournament. But if they make a mistake now, they may not get that chance.
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remaining games
March 6: Ohio State (15-15)
To be honest, the Horned Frog has probably done enough. They’ve won seven of their past eight games and came away with an eight-point win over No. 10 Texas Tech on Tuesday. They are emerging quickly and can move to 11-7 in Big 12 play with a win over Cincinnati on Saturday.
If they can beat the Bearcats, it won’t matter what happens in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City (although a win or two would go a long way toward seeding).
remaining games
March 7: vs. Cincinnati (17-3)
The Buckeyes looked like they were on their way out after a tough loss in Iowa City, but things quickly changed heading into the season finale. They bounced back with an upset win over Purdue and then a 32-point victory over Penn State on Wednesday night to move to 19-11 on the season.
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However, there is still some work to be done and the Buckeyes will have a must-win game against Indiana on Saturday. A loss there would undo all the progress they’ve made and could force them to advance significantly in the Big Ten Tournament. Indiana has a lot to play for and can’t afford to lose. This game is crucial on a busy Saturday for sports overall.
remaining games
March 7: vs. Indiana (18-12)
Although the Rams came up short against St. Louis, entering the final game of the regular season, the Rams were second in the A-10 standings and on track to make the tournament. Assuming Ohio State beats Indiana at home on Saturday, the Rams have a very clear path to the tournament without winning the A-10.
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They have to beat Dayton on Friday, which they did without issue a month ago, and then clinch a win or two in the conference championship game. But if they do that, Phil Martelli will have his team in the championship game in his first season.
remaining games
March 6: Dayton (21-9)
UCLA should be a safe bet after wins over Illinois and Nebraska in recent weeks. The Bruins can erase any doubts with a win over their crosstown rivals on Saturday night. As long as they beat USC — which is struggling, especially after firing leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazzara — they should get a big bid no matter what happens in the Big Ten tournament. But, of course, nothing is guaranteed in a competitive game.
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remaining games
March 7: USC (18-12)
This is not complicated. Auburn must beat Alabama on Saturday. The Tigers have lost seven of their past nine games but came into Tuesday’s game against LSU with a double-digit victory. The Tigers are heading to Tuscaloosa at the right time as Alabama just lost its way at Georgia.
Competitive victory here is not enough. The Tigers must also win multiple games in the SEC Tournament to advance. But if they don’t win on Saturday, it’s game over.
remaining games
March 7: Alabama (22-8)