Since so many of Saturday's games have major bubble implications, we'll be keeping a running tally here of the winners and losers. Check back at this post throughout the day for updated results and analysis:
BUBBLE WINNERS
Clemson (20-10, 9-7 ACC): A 69-60 home victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday won't put the Tigers in the field, but at least they remain within striking distance of an at-large bid entering the ACC tournament. The fourth-seeded Tigers went 0-3 against North Carolina and Duke in conference play and lack any signature non-league victories. As a result, they likely need at least one ACC tournament win to have a good chance at an at-large and might need an appearance in the title game to feel comfortable.
Alabama (20-10, 12-4 SEC): Alabama officially remains the most polarizing bubble team in the nation thanks to Saturday's 65-57 home win over Georgia that elevated the Tide to 12-4 in the SEC. Can 12 wins in a major conference including victories over Kentucky and Tennessee counteract a woeful non-league season that included losses to St. Peters and Providence? Maybe, but the Tide at least need to beat Georgia once more in the SEC quarterfinals next week to feel more secure.
Richmond (23-7, 13-3 A-10): The Spiders continue to avoid profile-killing losses in Atlantic 10 play, rolling to a 68-56 victory over Duquesne on Saturday afternoon to finish three games clear of the fourth place Dukes. That separation and an early win over Purdue might be enough to get Richmond a second straight at-large bid, even though the Spiders suffered a couple puzzling non-league losses and failed to beat Atlantic 10 front runners Temple and Xavier this season.
Illinois (19-12, 9-9 Big Ten): Perhaps motivated by Tom Crean's bizarre celebration in the lobby after Indiana's win in Bloomington earlier this season, the Illini throttled the Hoosiers, 72-48, on Saturday afternoon in Champaign. As a result of the weakness of the rest of the bubble, Illinois appears to be solidly in the field after this win. The Illini could remove any semblance of doubt with a Big Ten quarterfinal win over Michigan or Michigan State this week.
BUBBLE LOSERS
Virginia Tech (19-10, 9-7 ACC): Since Dick Vitale prematurely declared the Hokies an NCAA tournament lock in the wake of their upset victory over Duke seven days ago, Seth Greenberg's team has lost at home to Boston College and at Clemson. Saturday's 69-60 loss in Greenville leaves Virginia Tech with major work to do in the ACC tournament. Beating Wake Forest in the first round is a must, of course, as is winning a rematch with Clemson in the quarterfinals.
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