Come Sunday, the calendar will turn to March, which marks a special time of year for college basketball fans. As the NCAA tournament is just weeks away from tipping off, most of us know that the usual suspects like Kentucky, Duke and Kansas are sure to be there. For several other teams, the goal right now is simply getting into the field of 68. For teams on the bubble, every game is magnified. How teams play heading into the tournament will be a factor in determining their fates. Here is a look at five bubble teams playing well at the right time:
Davidson
It hasn’t received much media attention this season, but Davidson is peaking at the right time. The Wildcats have won six straight games to draw into a four-way tie for first place in the Atlantic 10. Jack Gibbs’ 3-pointer with 13 seconds left on Wednesday night gave Davidson a much-needed 60-59 road victory over A-10 co-leader Rhode Island. Stephen Curry may no longer be in the lineup, but Davidson is proving to be a very dangerous team, averaging about 80 points per game. The Wildcats have five players averaging in double-figures scoring led by the sharp-shooting duo of Gibbs and Tyler Kalinoski.
CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 24: Head coach Mark Gottfried and Ralston Turner #22 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack celebrate after a win against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on February 24, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina State won 58-46. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
N.C. State
Perhaps the last team into the field of 68 last season, North Carolina State is making another late-season surge. Since a hard-fought loss to Virginia on February 11, the Wolfpack are 3-0 with road victories over Louisville and North Carolina. The 3-headed backcourt monster of Trevor Lacey, Ralston Turner and Anthony Barber have carried N.C. State this season, but of late, it’s been dominant defensive efforts that have fueled the team. In Chapel Hill on Tuesday, N.C. State held the rival Tar Heels, who rank in the top 20 nationally in scoring, to a mere 46 points on their home floor. N.C. State currently owns a top 40 RPI and has a less than daunting remaining schedule.
Oregon
Don’t look now, but the Oregon Ducks may be the hottest team in the Pac-12. The Ducks have won six of their last seven games and eight of 10 since starting conference play 3-3. Over the weekend, Oregon notched its most impressive victory of the season with a 69-58 win over No. 9 Utah. Senior Joseph Young has been the biggest reason for Oregon’s success this season, but junior Elgin Cook has come on of late, averaging nearly 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game over his last five contests. A road win at California on Wednesday night will only enhance this team’s profile.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has had a quiet season in a relatively loud ACC, but over the last eight games, the Panthers have made their fair share of noise, going 6-2 with victories over Notre Dame, North Carolina, and at Syracuse. Pittsburgh has been led by the versatile duo of Jamel Artis and Michael Young, but the Panthers have five players who average at least nine points. With better than a five-assists-per-game average and a 3:1 assist-turnover ratio, James Robinson has quietly been one of the better facilitators in the ACC. Pitt could lock up an NCAA bid before the conference tourney even starts as a home game against Miami and road contests versus Wake Forest and Florida State are all that remain on the slate.
St. John’s
After a 2-5 start in Big East play, things have been clicking on all cylinders for St. John’s. The Red Storm have won five of their last six games, including two in a 10-day span over fellow Big East bubble team Xavier. St. John’s currently owns a top 35 RPI and the Red Storm possess a very balanced offensive attack. While D’Angelo Harrison has carried the offense this season, senior Sir’Dominic Pointer is an absolute freak athletically, averaging 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2.6 blocks per game — all while shooting 54 percent from the floor. St. John’s has played outstanding of late, but with Georgetown and Villanova still on the schedule, it will need to continue to do so to reach the Dance.
