The Southeastern Conference has emerged as the premier league in college basketball this season, boasting nine ranked teams, including five within the top 10.
One team that anticipated being in contention for the conference championship now finds itself needing to make a significant push just to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The Longhorns from Texas (15-9, 4-7 SEC) began the season ranked No. 19 in the AP preseason poll, but they have struggled to maintain momentum. After losing both games last week, their record since the new year stands at a disappointing 4-7.
Currently, Texas sits at No. 31 in the NET rankings, with two critical opportunities to enhance their tournament resume coming up against No. 2 Alabama on Tuesday and No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday.
**Bubble Watch**
Arkansas will face off against No. 8 Texas A&M on Saturday. The Razorbacks (14-9, 3-7 SEC, No. 43 NET) are looking to rebound after a narrow defeat to No. 2 Alabama, bringing their record to 7-9 against higher-tier teams.
UCLA will go head-to-head with Illinois on Saturday. The Bruins (18-6, 9-4 Big Ten, No. 25 NET) appeared to be struggling after a rough patch of five losses in six games, but they have rallied impressively with seven consecutive victories, bolstering their NCAA Tournament hopes.
West Virginia will meet BYU on Tuesday before taking on Baylor on Saturday. The Mountaineers (15-8, 6-6 Big 12, No. 38 NET) have notable victories against Kansas, Gonzaga, and Arizona, but they have encountered difficulties, losing six of their last nine games.
**Key Ratings**
Villanova: With a recent significant victory over Xavier, the Wildcats (14-10, 7-6 Big East) have advanced to No. 53 in the NET rankings. They are now preparing for an important matchup against No. 8 St. John’s on Wednesday.
San Diego State: As the Mountain West Conference anticipates a decrease in NCAA Tournament representatives compared to last year’s six, the Aztecs (15-6, 8-4) need to perform strongly in their remaining games. Currently at No. 52 in the NET, San Diego State has upcoming matches against Boise State, Utah State, and New Mexico.
