Wednesday: Top 5 bubble teams that could make a deep NCAA Tournament run

It’s Wednesday, and that means time for this week’s top 5.

This edition is going to focus on college basketball, more specifically; the NCAA Tournament.

Remember UCONN a few years ago? That team that was on the bubble entering the Big East tournament? That team that won five games in five days en route to a conference crown? Oh, they also won the national title as well, led by Kemba Walker.

This week’s topic focuses on those kind of teams: Top 5 teams on the bubble right now that could make a run in the Big Dance.

1.     Oklahoma State, 16-10 overall, 4-9 Big 12, RPI 52, SOS 17: The Cowboys are in bad shape after losing to Baylor Monday night, their seventh straight defeat. But the fact that this team was a top 5 squad at one point this season makes a huge case that they can turn it around. That and Marcus Smart comes back next game after serving a three-game suspension. The schedule favors Oklahoma State as well. It plays Texas Tech at home and then travels to TCU before hosting Kansas and Kansas State. I think the Cowboys go on a run here and become a serious Final Four threat once again. Plus, I wouldn’t want to go against Marcus Smart right now. He's scary good when he's angry and he can't be too happy right now.

2.     Tennessee, 15-10, 6-6 SEC, RPI 54, SOS 10: Every year the Volunteers find themselves on the bubble. This year is no different, except this time Tennessee isn’t going to sweat on Selection Sunday. This team is too good and too talented to slip any further. The Volunteers rebound the basketball—reeling in 41 percent of their misses—and they have one of the best scorers in the country in Jordan McRae. They don’t play Florida or Kentucky the rest of the regular season. This team has the pieces to make a deep tournament run, and I think they’ll do it this year, if they don’t let their bubble burst.

3.     California, 17-8, 8-4 Pac 12, RPI 43, SOS 62: The reason why I have California so high? Justin Cobbs. This guy can flat out play. He puts up 16 points and 6 assists per game, but it’s his playmaking ability that makes him so good. Just ask Arizona. Cobbs is a senior leader too, which makes his teammates better around him. Big time players can lead teams to places not many other people think they can go, and Cobbs is a big time player.

4.     West Virginia, 15-11, 7-6 Big 12, RPI 67, SOS 42: The Mountaineers might be the most intriguing team on the bubble. Their resume isn’t that great. Actually, it really stinks. But any team that can put up 102 points on Iowa State and hang with Kansas at Allan Fieldhouse is dangerous in my book. They are also dangerous because of Juwan Staten, who averages 18 points and 6 assists a game. The point guard is a lot like Cobbs; a playmaker who makes his teammates better around him. If West Virginia can get into the Dance, watch out. This team won’t be a one-and-done team I can guarantee that.

5.     St. Johns, 17-9, 7-6 Big East, RPI 53, SOS 41: The Red Storm might be the hottest team in the Big East right now. After dropping their first five conference games, St. Johns has won nine of its last 10 with its only loss come at Creighton. It returned the favor against Creighton later in the month as well. The Johnnies keep winning games and make a run in the Big East tournament, who knows how far this team can go in the Big Dance.

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Thanks for reading! Let me know if I left any teams out that you think can make a deep tournament run.

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