Trying to Debunk URI's Fellow Bubble Teams
Realistically, the Rhode Island faithful need to start thinking about and rooting against the competition that stands between the Rams being on the right side of the bubble come Selection Sunday. There are about 25 - 30 teams that are near-locks for some sort of bid (automatic or at-large) into the NCAA tournament that URI cannot contend with, given the relatively weak competition left in their conference schedule. With that said, there are set to be around 16 at-large bids that could be completely up for grabs up until Selection Sunday, especially considering the recent parity throughout college basketball. For example, in the ACC, everyone has lost to everyone in that powerful conference.
With Selection Sunday being 6 weeks away, the picture of who still has a chance at an at-large bid will continue to become clearer as the time dwindles down. Currently, the Rams are in direct competition with numerous teams that are all in contention for a multitude of reasons. First off, URI can help themselves ten-fold by beating VCU when the battle of the Rams happens on March 25th at the Ryan Center. Despite VCU's current RPI of 36, I do not think many of their wins have been over impressive competition, outside of home victories over Dayton and Middle Tennessee. Meanwhile, they took very bad losses at failing Davidson and Fordham teams. The Rams from Kingston, RI would be smart to knock the Rams from Richmond, VA to other side of the bubble.
Moving into all of the other teams in contention for at-large bids, the Rhody faithful needs to root against and be weary of: Minnesota, California, Michigan, Iowa State, Seton Hall, Michigan State, Arkansas, Kansas State, Miami (Fl.), Texas Tech, TCU, Wake Forest, UT-Arlington, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, TCU, Utah, Pittsburgh, Clemson, NC State, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio State, and Illinois.
To be brutally honest, I do not think that a lot of these teams deserve to be in this discussion. While Rhode Island may have fell just short in a lot of close contests at Valparaiso, PC, Houston, and Dayton, they have certainly challenged themselves. The schedule that some of these aforementioned teams put together is not worthy of an NCAA tournament berth. In addition, as good as conferences like the ACC are, Pittsburgh (1-7 in conference) and Clemson (2-6 in the ACC) should not currently be in the discussion for the NCAA tournament. While the Rhode Island Rams need to continue taking care of business in the Atlantic 10, many of these bubble teams will fall off the bubble and into oblivion.
Progressing forward, URI must keep one eye on their current schedule and their other eye on other bubble teams.
