That said, here is the Maniac's slant on who leans through the finish line and who stands gasping with their hands on their hips.
Cincinnati - 17-10 (7-7)
The Cats will have their chance to move into secure footing Thursday night when they take on former coach Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers. Following the WVU game they go to Syracuse for their final chance at a marquee win. Their final two games are should wins at South Florida and hosting Seton Hall. Should the Cats split their next two, then handle their business in the final two they would finish 20-11, 10-8. That should be enough to dance.
MANIAC'S CALL: OUT
Virginia Tech 16-10 (6-6)
The Hokies have played themselves on the wring side of the bubble dropping three straight games. The good news? They have four games remaining to pick up some valuable wins and play their way in. The flipside? They could easily drop three or even all four and find themselves a tourney afterthought (and middle seed in the NIT). The gauntlet starts tonight at Clemson, followed by visits from Duke and UNC. The finale is a trip to Florida State...but by then it may not matter too much.
MANIAC'S CALL: OUT
Providence 17-11 (9-7)
With all apologies to Barack, The Friars showed us a real game changer last night. Their start-to-finish beating of the #1 Panthers last night took the Friars from first team out to comfortably IN. Now they just have to hold the rope. A win over Rutgers and a non-embarassing performance at Villanova and in the first round of the Big East tourney should get the Friars a ticket to the Dance.
MANIAC'S CALL: IN
Notre Dame 15-11 (6-8)
Ok, hear me out... Notre Dame has two should wins on the schedule, a trip to Storrs Saturday and a home game against Villanova. If they go 3-1, and win a game in the Big East tourney, they would finish up 19-13, (9-9). It would depend on how well some of the smaller conference locks fare in the conference tourney, but I think it would be enough to get the Irish the last at large bid. Win at Connecticut? Notre Dame passes Cincinnati and Providence and becomes the Big East's 7th bid.
MANIAC'S CALL: IN
Kansas State 19-8 (7-5)
The Wildacts put on a heckuva run to even get to this point in the discussion, but a colser look at the resume makes their case a longshot. They boast no major non-conference wins, and have losses to Kentucky (acceptable), Iowa (less acceptable) and Oregon (something NO Pac-10 team has to apologize for...). Their final four gives them a chance to win their way in; games against Nebraska and Oklahoma State are winnable and attractive wins to boot, the Missouri game would be the clincher. It is asking a lot of a team that no one expected to be here after starting 0-5 in Big 12 play.
MANIAC'S CALL: OUT
UAB 19-8 (9-3)
The Blazers have an early season win over Arizona, and all five of their non-conference losses are to tourney teams (Oklahoma, Butler, Cincinati, Louisville, and BC). That said, this is not your Daddy's C-USA. It is a 1-bid league these days, though Houston, Tulsa and the Blazers are much improved. The Blazers do get a de facto first round tourney game on Saturday when they take on Memphis. Win that, and their other remaining three and they make a compelling case for the committee to consider. Should they lose Saturday, they better win the C-USA tourney ior it is another trip to the NIT for Robert Vaden and Coach Davis.
MANIAC'S CALL: OUT
Creighton 23-6 (13-4)
Wins over Dayton, St. Joes and New Mexico and a two-point losses to underrated Arkansas Little Rock and Nebraska give the Blue Jays one of the more intriguing discussions. 13-4 in the balanced, but not spectacular MVC leads one to believe the Jays need to win the tourney to Dance. I think if they win Saturday over Illinois State and finish the regular season at 24-6 they will be fine; deservedly so.
MANIAC'S CALL: IN
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