Connoracketology Week 15 (2/17/15)

     *This edition of Connoracketology uses games played through Feb. 16, 2015 to determine its rankings.   

     The last eight days have been unreal.  The bubble has completely blown open, and at this point there are dozens of teams that could end up in the last few spots.  No, this isn't because teams are getting quality wins.  Quite the opposite.  Everyone is losing, and losing to bad teams, which means that squads that weren't even in the first dozen teams out of the tournament a week ago technically stand a chance.  More on that tomorrow, though.  For now, let's see where our broken bubble has left us.
     Bolded teams are conference leaders and have an automatic bid.  Italicized teams will be playing play-in games to make the field of 68 and are the last four in and worst four auto-bids.  Teams remaining in the same seed will receive no extra marks, but teams with a different seeding will have their previous seed in parentheses, and new teams in the tournament will have an asterisk.  Within seeds teams are ranked from left to right.
   

1s:  Kentucky, Virginia, Duke, Gonzaga

2s:  Wisconsin, Villanova, Arizona, Kansas

3s:  Utah, Louisville, Notre Dame (4), Iowa St

4s:  Northern Iowa, North Carolina (3), Baylor, Wichita St (5)

5s:  Oklahoma (4), Butler, Maryland, West Virginia (6)

6s:  Arkansas, Providence, VCU (5), Georgetown (7)

7s:  SMU, Ohio St (6), Indiana (8), San Diego St (8)

8s:  Oklahoma St (7), Georgia (7), Texas (9), Xavier

9s:  Ole Miss, Michigan St (10), Dayton (10), Temple (12)

10s:  St. John’s (12), Cincinnati, Texas A&M, Stanford (9)

11s:  LSU, Iowa (9), UCLA*, Colorado St (10), Illinois

12s:  NC State*, Purdue*, Murray State, Iona (12), Wofford

13s:  Harvard, Valparaiso (14), Bowling Green, Louisiana Tech

14s:  William & Mary, Sam Houston St*, Eastern Washington*, UC Davis

15s:  NC Central (14), High Point, Albany, Florida Gulf Coast*

16s:  New Mexico St (15), UL Monroe (15), North Dakota St, St Francis, Bucknell*, Texas Southern*

Teams That Left the Field

Auto Bids: Stephen F. Austin, Sacramento St, North Florida, Colgate, Alabama St

At Large Bids: Seton Hall, Old Dominion, Tulsa

On the Outside Looking In

First Four Out: Tulsa, Boise St, Old Dominion, Miami

Next Four Out: BYU, Davidson, Oregon, Pitt

Barely Hanging: GW, Mass, Rhode Island, St. Mary’s

Even More?: Stephen F. Austin, Seton Hall, Green Bay, Yale, Minnesota

Bids by Conference

Big Ten: 8

Big 12: 7

ACC: 6

Big East: 6

SEC: 6

Pac-12: 4

American: 3

Atlantic 10: 2

Mountain West: 2

Missouri Valley: 2

22 Conferences: 1