Meet the bubble boys playing for their NCAA tournament dreams at the end of the season.
Selection Sunday is around the corner for men’s college basketball. Before the 2025 NCAA tournament bracket is announced on March 16, some of the sport’s biggest names are still fighting to get off the bubble and into the field.
Conference tournament season is here, and it’s glorious. Our Mike Rutherford has the best breakdown of Championship Week you will find. There are still plenty of at-large bids up for grabs in the big dance heading into the final weekend of the regular season in the major conferences, and some of them won’t be decided until the results of the league tournaments play out.
Check out our coverage on the teams who can win the national championship, the most disappointing teams in the country, and this year’s breakthrough freshmen. Now, let’s dive into the bubble boys who have work to do to get into the bracket.
Xavier Musketeers
NET ranking: 47
Bracketology projection: Last four in (SB Nation, ESPN)
There’s no next year for most of Xavier’s roster: six of the team’s key rotation players are fifth-year seniors who are out of eligibility after this season. The Musketeers have earned some solid wins this season against Marquette (on the road), UConn (at home), and Creighton (at home), and they seem to be playing their best basketball at the right time. Xavier has won six-straight entering a must-win regular season finale against Providence over the weekend. It feels like they will still have work to do in the Big East tournament even if they get that win.
Xavier is 20-10 overall and 12-7 in conference entering the finale. Losses to TCU and Georgetown don’t look great, but both were on the road. Sean Miller’s team has been shooting the ball really well lately, and is the second most experienced team in the country according to KenPom. Every game has been a must-win for while now for Xavier, and so far they are up to the challenge.
Boise State Broncos
Net ranking: 43
Bracketology projection: Last four in (SB Nation, ESPN)
The Mountain West has been a top-heavy conference all year, with New Mexico, Colorado State, Boise State, and Utah State all with five losses or fewer in conference. There’s no way all of those teams are getting in, which is going to make the race for the auto-bid in the conference tournament one of the most thrilling we’ll see this year. Boise State has some tough losses to Boston College and Washington State, but a big overtime win against Saint Mary’s in Dec. and a 13-point victory over Clemson in Nov. gives them a solid chance at an at-large.
The Broncos have a true mid-major star in forward Tyson Degenhart, who has stuck with his program all four years. The regular season finale between Boise State and Colorado State is going to be electric. Whoever wins will have the upper hand for an at-large berth heading into the conference tournament.
Oklahoma Sooners
Net ranking: 50
Bracketology projection: First four out (SB Nation, ESPN)
The SEC is by far the best conference in the country, and Oklahoma has felt the weight of the competition this year. The Sooners are a talented team led by a possibly NBA lottery pick in Jeremiah Fears, but they’re just 5-12 in the conference heading into the regular season finale vs. Texas that’s a must-win for both teams.
Oklahoma got a huge win over No. 15 Missouri this week to keep their at-large dreams alive. This team felt destined for a tournament run after a 13-0 start that included wins over Arizona, Louisville, and Michigan, but SEC play has been sobering. Can Fears — who turned 18 years old days before the season — put together one more signature performance to lift his team to a key win over the Longhorns? He has plenty of talented seniors around him to help out. It’s going to be must-see TV.
North Carolina Tar Heels
NET ranking: 38
Bracketology projection: First four out (SB Nation, ESPN)
A down year for the ACC has hurt the Tar Heels’ resume. UNC is 13-6 in conference and 20-11 overall entering the final weekend, but most projections still have them outside of the field of 68. The reagular season finale vs. Duke gives them an iron clad opportunity to grab an at-large bid. Otherwise, they better go on a long run in the ACC tournament if they want to be dancing.
Carolina’s best win this year is against a UCLA team ranked only No. 27 in KenPom. The Heels have lost against every good team they’ve faced, though they’ve mostly taken care of business against lesser names, save for slip-ups against Stanford and Wake Forest. UNC plays a fast, fun brand of ball led by senior RJ Davis. I have a funny feeling they are getting into the tournament field, but right now they are still on the outside looking in.
Arkansas Razorbacks
NET ranking: 39
Bracketology projection: Last four in (SB Nation, ESPN)
Kentucky fans will have a field day if John Calipari misses the NCAA tournament in his first year with Arkansas, and there’s a real chance it happens. The Razorbacks are just 7-10 in the SEC and 18-10 overall heading into the regular season finale against Mississippi State. Their best wins are against Michigan, Kentucky, and Missouri, but they also have disappointing losses to LSU and South Carolina.
Calilpari’s team is talented, but the guard tandem of DJ Wagner and Johnell Davis has underwhelmed. It’s time for Davis to earn his NIL money as the SEC tournament comes into focus. It’s going to be a wild scene in Nashville for the SEC tournament, and Arkansas can’t slip up, or they risk being left out of the field.
Texas Longhorns
NET ranking: 40
Bracketology projection: First four out (SB Nation, ESPN)
Texas vs. Oklahoma is the most important regular season finale. It’s also a showdown of two possible lottery picks in Jeremiah Fears vs. Tre Johnson. Johnson has been spectacular lately for Texas, showing his takeover scoring ability against Kentucky (32 points), South Carolina (29 points), and Arkansas (39 points). Unfortunately, the Longhorns have still lost six of their last eight games, putting them on the outside looking in for most projections.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
NET ranking: 57
Bracketology projection: First four out (SB Nation, ESPN)
It’s been a rollercoaster season for Fred Hoiberg’s Nebraska team after earning an 8-seed to the big dance last year. The Cornhuskers are just 7-12 in the Big Ten entering the regular season finale against Iowa, and they likely need that win plus a couple more in the conference tournament.
Nebraska’s hopes were looking up after beating Creighton, Indiana, and UCLA by early Jan., but a six-game losing streak coupled with the program’s current four-game slide have put their at-large hopes in jeopardy. Every game is a must-win for the Huskers from here on out.
Indiana Hoosiers
NET ranking: 55
Bracketology projection: Last four in (SB Nation, ESPN)
The Indiana Hoosiers also deserves to be mentioned among the bubble boys. IU has a NET ranking of 55 heading into the regular season finale against Ohio State. Recent wins over Purdue and Michigan State give the Hoosiers hope, but this team is still a game under .500 in conference before facing the Buckeyes.
Mike Woodson doesn’t want to go out in the NIT. It’s been a frustrating season in Bloomington, but the team is starting to find its identity with only one big on the floor. IU spent big money in the transfer portal this summer. It’s time to make it count.
