On March 6th, TCU boosted its NCAA tournament hopes with a big road win over No. 10 Texas Tech, putting the Horned Frogs in strong position, heading into their final regular season game. Their metrics jumped across the board, with the NET ranking now at No. 42, Ken Palm at 45, and other key ratings like BPI at 48.
The resume shows solid marks, including five wins and one loss in Quadrant II games, helping them climb wins above bubble rankings to No. 35. Projections have TCU as a likely 10 seed, facing teams like BYU in Oklahoma City, or Georgia and Kentucky in early bracket models. Analysts give them over 90% odds of making the dance, with average seeds around 9 or 10.
This win adds crucial quality road victory to a resume that's now tournament-worthy. Around the bubble, Cincinnati surged seven spots to No. 42 after crushing BYU, setting up a huge clash with TCU on Saturday that could decide seeding and bids. UCLA locked in with a 20-point win over Nebraska, while Georgia grabbed its 7th Quadrant I victory against Alabama, solidifying SEC.
Strength. Oklahoma kept fighting with a 16-point route of Missouri, though an at-large bid still looks tough. On the flip side, USC dropped six spots after six great losses, fading from contention, and New Mexico hurt itself with a home Quadrant III. Defeat.
Baylor slipped below 500 after losing at Houston, needing a miracle conference run. The cut line sharpened as more teams like UCLA and Georgia punch tickets, leaving fewer spots for bubble dwellers. Watch this weekend's finales closely, especially TCU hosting Cincinnati at 1 p.m. on Saturday, along with match-ups like West Virginia versus UCF, and Ohio State against Indiana.
Wins here could lock bids or send teams tumbling, shaping the final field before conference tournaments heat up.