Wednesday: Top 5 teams that need a big final weekend

It’s Hump Day! And we’re just five days away Selection Sunday.

Eleven teams have already punched their ticket to the Big Dance and some need to do some work to get in. Who are those teams that need to make a run in their respective conference tournaments?

This week’s Top 5 topic focuses on just that: Top 5 teams that need a big final weekend to make the NCAA Tournament.

1.     Minnesota, 19-12 (8-10), RPI 49, Strength of Schedule (SOS) 5: The Gophers have a strong resume, but a lot of weird losses as well. They’ve beaten teams like Wisconsin and Ohio State. But they’ve lost to teams like Northwestern at home and Purdue on the road. Hence, the sub .500 conference record. Minnesota needs to make a run to at least the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament if it wants to feel good heading into Sunday.

2.     Providence, 20-11 (10-8), RPI 54, SOS 77: The Friars missed a golden opportunity to make their resume much stronger when they lost at Creighton Saturday. Then again, no one was going to beat Creighton on Doug McDermott’s senior night. So this now leaves Providence in a sticky situation. It’s 5-5 in its last 10 games. That’s not exactly wowing the selection committee. The Friars have a huge opening round matchup with St. Johns—another bubble team—on Thursday in the Big East Tournament. Beating the Red Storm would impress the committee a little bit. But only a little.

3.     Arkansas, 21-10 (10-8), RPI 53, SOS 89: How do you beat Kentucky twice and then get pounded by Alabama? Well, ask the Razorbacks. They are an extremely talented team with tons of athleticism, but aren’t consistent. An 89^th-ranked strength of schedule doesn’t help either. The good news though, they still can make a run in the SEC Tournament. Arkansas will play either Auburn or South Carolina in the opening round. Win that game and then win against Tennessee, the committee might be impressed. Lose the opening game and say hello to the NIT.

4.     Dayton, 22-9 (10-6), RPI 40, SOS 48: If there’s a team that benefits from the eye test more than anyone, it’s the Flyers. Dayton knocked off two NCAA Tournament teams and an NIT team in its final three games to finish 10-6 in conference. Beating St. Louis on the road is impressive, but the Flyers still need to do some work in the Atlantic 10 Tournament before they can go dancing. Win two games in that tourney, and Dayton will be shining up its dance shoes next week.

5.     Florida State, 18-12 (9-9), RPI 58, SOS 47: Here’s the bad news; the Seminoles’ resume isn’t all that impressive. Here’s the good news; they play in the ACC. They drew the No. 9 seed in the conference tournament and will play Maryland Thursday. If they win that game, No. 1 seed Virginia looms Friday. Both those games are extremely winnable for Florida State. If it can get to 20 wins and knock off a Top 10 team in the Cavaliers, I think the Seminoles are in the tourney.

Top Videos:

-Big day in NFL free agency yesterday, including the Cowboys getting rid of their best defensive player. 

-The Broncos also seem to be stocking up on defense. 

-Four teams punched their tickets to the NCAA Tournament Tuesday: Milwaukee, Mount Saint Mary's, Gonzaga and North Dakota State. 

-Not a video, but I documented my walk to Pinnacle Bank Arena for Nebraska's upset against Wisconsin Sunday. Here's my column. 

Thanks for reading! Friday’s post will be from the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.

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