Columns

Bubbles, Sitting on the Fence and Brackets Part 4: 2000-04

Part 4 of our look back at Selection Sundays and NCAA Tournament bubbles over the last 35 years moves into a new decade with our review of 2000-04. Strength of schedule becomes king, Barry Hinson has his first notable snub, and Butler in 2002 and Utah State in 2004 beg the question of just how much do teams like them need to win to get a bid.

Bubbles, Sitting on the Fence and Brackets Part 3: 1995-99

Part 3 of our reflection, research and review of Selection Sundays and the NCAA Tournament bubble over the last 35 years looks year-by-year at 1995-99. The stretch saw conference champions like Manhattan and Miami (Ohio) rewarded in 1995, a shift towards mid-pack majors as the 90s drew to a close but also surges by a trio of Midwestern leagues.

Bubbles, Sitting on the Fence and Brackets Part 2: 1990-94

The second part of our review of bubble teams in and out in the NCAA Tournament over the past 35 years focuses on 1990-94. The span included those spurned during arguably the greatest NCAA Tournament of all, a 25-4 Dick and Tony Bennett led Wisconsin-Green Bay team left out, and a committee point of emphasis develops favoring conference champions.

The Hoosier State is indeed special

South Orange, NJ– Basketball history has always been an interesting and informative part of the game. Closely related to the past is the present-the culture of the game. Of particular interest here is the history and culture, the two going hand in hand, of the Hoosier State-Indiana. There are states […]

Bubbles, Sitting on the Fence and Brackets Part 1: 1985-89

We begin our review of the bubble over the years with the first five years of the 64-team NCAA Tournament era, 1985-89, including the first big snub (and blow-up) in the expanded tourney era, a 14 seed at-large team nearly making the Elite 8 and a conference going from a national champion one year to no team in the Big Dance at all the next.