A horrid begin put Villanova in a 24-point first half deficit in opposition to Creighton. However the Wildcats clawed again.
They saved it shut for a majority of the second half, however a serious run late tied the sport — which Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune had referred to as “our Tremendous Bowl” — at 67 with 25 seconds left.
However hoping to be the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Villanova as a substitute ended up being the San Francisco 49ers as Creighton’s Trey Alexander hit a fadeaway jumper with lower than a second left to interrupt the Wildcats’ hearts.
The defeat capped a disappointing week for Villanova.
The Wildcats entered the week winners of 5 of their final six and had positioned themselves to be among the many final 4 groups within the NCAA Event, per the newest USA TODAY Sports activities Bracketology prediction. However Villanoa had a disappointing efficiency at Seton Corridor on Wednesday, and mixed with the stunner on Saturday, it shouldn’t be shocked if it is on the surface wanting in heading into the Huge East match. It dropped each Quad 1 probabilities this week and fell to 4-9 in opposition to Quad 1 opponents. A 17-14 total document with a 10-10 document in convention isn’t the look of a match staff.
It’s not formally set, however with the loss, Villanova doubtless should play Wednesday within the first spherical of the Huge East match, giving the staff an uphill battle to safe an NCAA Event spot. If it desires the automated bid, it’ll should win 4 video games in 4 days. That doubtless will embody a matchup in opposition to Connecticut, Marquette or Creighton. Simpler stated than finished.
Let the Villanova loss within the closing weekend of the common season remind you ways small the margin for error is to make the NCAA Event. That’s why the Wildcats lead Saturday’s early winners and losers on the bubble:
WINNERS
Florida Atlantic
The Owls have averted falling into one of many final 4 groups in, they usually received’t have to fret about it heading into the convention match after defeating Memphis at dwelling.
Lower than two weeks in the past, Florida Atlantic went into Memphis and couldn’t sustain within the second half. This time, Memphis was on hearth from the 3-point line, however the Owls dominated contained in the paint at a raucous Eleanor R. Baldwin Enviornment to win 92-84. Vladislav Goldin, a key member of final season’s Last 4 staff, made his presence felt with 21 factors and 12 rebounds, which matched his season excessive. Memphis stayed shut for a lot of the afternoon, however Florida Atlantic by no means let the Tigers take over because it managed the boards with 16 offensive rebounds for 20 second-chance factors.
Florida Atlantic will head into the American Athletic Convention match because the No. 2 seed. It is not what it anticipated initially of the season, however the Owls can comfortably play in Fort Value, Texas, subsequent week. A convention match title isn’t mandatory, however it will enhance their seed on Choice Sunday.
St. John’s
Rick Pitino can be the primary particular person to inform you his staff isn’t nice. He’s actually already stated it earlier than. St. John’s didn’t seem like a unbelievable staff, nevertheless it was in a position to maintain off Georgetown, 86-76, to finish the common season on a five-game successful streak.
The Johnnies and Hoyas have been shut for a lot of the sport, particularly with Georgetown having an important day taking pictures behind the arc, however St. John’s countered it by dominating contained in the 3-point line with 42 factors within the paint. The bodily nature of the offense additionally led to St. John’s taking pictures a whooping 32 free throws in comparison with Georgetown’s 12. Attending to the free throw line late within the recreation helped the Crimson Storm draw back.
There’s nothing spectacular about getting a Quad 4 win this late within the season, however this very simply might’ve been a recreation that killed St. John’s momentum as a bubble staff. A loss would’ve been disastrous to match hopes, however now St. John’s possibly wants just one win within the Huge East match to get an NCAA Event spot, a a lot better outlook than needing a title recreation look.
Colorado
Few groups’ inventory is rising as a lot as Colorado proper now. The Buffaloes received their sixth in a row Saturday after dealing with Oregon State within the common season finale. Their 22 victories are essentially the most the staff has ever had within the common season.
Colorado held Oregon State to only 57 factors on 37.5% taking pictures whereas all its starters scored in double figures. The beginning unit accounted for 69 of its 73 factors, led by Eddie Lampkin Jr. notching 17 factors.
The tip of the common season couldn’t have gone higher for Colorado, which can now enter the Pac-12 Convention match because the No. 3 seed. If Colorado can hold its momentum getting in Las Vegas, it could not simply be a bubble staff, however a staff that doesn’t should play in a First 4 recreation.
ACC bubble groups
Saturday was day for ACC faculties on the bubble with Virginia, Wake Forest and Pittsburgh all choosing up victories.
One of many final 4 groups in, Virginia dealt with Georgia Tech in a 15-point win, Wake Forest bought a Quad 1 victory over Clemson to snap a three-game skid and Pittsburgh held off NC State to clinch the fourth seed within the ACC match.
All three successful groups ought to keep within the bubble image heading into the convention match within the nation’s capital, they usually all might want to a minimum of make it to the semifinals to get a greater likelihood of an NCAA Event spot. Meaning one win for Virginia and Pittsburgh, and two for Wake Forest.
Missouri Valley at-large bid
The Missouri Valley Convention has a case to get two groups within the NCAA Event after Indiana State and Drake superior to their convention match closing. Indiana State had no issues taking good care of Northern Iowa in a 94-72 win, and Drake was in a position to draw back from Bradley late of their semifinal matchup to arrange the championship match on Sunday.
Sadly for the convention, just one staff will mechanically be within the NCAA Event whereas the opposite should hope for some assist by Choice Sunday. If something, Indiana State is extra more likely to get an at-large spot with the Sycamores having a NET rating of 29 and the Bulldogs ranked 46 within the metric. Regardless, each groups will attempt to make a compelling case once they face one another within the Arch Insanity finale after splitting the common season sequence.
LOSERS
Mississippi State
Mississippi State has change into the newest staff to go from comfortably in to on the bubble.
Two weeks in the past, the Bulldogs received their fifth consecutive recreation and have been on their option to getting a minimum of a No. 8 seed within the NCAA Event. However since then, Mississippi State has misplaced 4 in a row, capped off by an extra time loss to South Carolina on Saturday.
Josh Hubbard did his normal enterprise for the Bulldogs with 28 factors, and he even bought assist with three different gamers scoring in double figures. However the Bulldogs missed all three of their 3-point makes an attempt (two from Hubbard) in extra time within the four-point loss
Ending the common season with an 8-10 convention document exhibits what an enormous disappointment the Bulldogs have been in latest weeks; They finish the common season with a 7-11 document in opposition to Quad 1 and a pair of opponents. Mississippi State ought to stay within the projected match discipline, however it could possibly’t afford a one-and-done expertise within the SEC match now.
Utah
A Pac-12 match title is likely to be the one approach Utah can get into the NCAA Event after a disastrous weekend within the Beaver State.
After a complicated Quad 3 loss at Oregon State on Thursday, the Utes had an opportunity to redeem themselves with a Quad 1 win at Oregon on Saturday. After falling behind early, Branden Carlson bought his staff the lead, however the star participant went down with an elbow harm early within the second half. Oregon took benefit and had the lead within the closing seconds, however Utah had an opportunity for a final second win. It didn’t drop, and the Utes misplaced 66-65.
The 2 consecutive losses have been one thing Utah couldn’t afford being one of many first groups projected to overlook the match, and simply exhibits how unhealthy of a second half of the season it was after beginning the marketing campaign 11-2. With no bye within the Pac-12 match after ending 11th of September within the weak convention, it’ll take a miracle run – and sure Carlson again – to get into the match.
Windfall
Nothing might be as huge of a match enhance on Saturday than beating Connecticut, and Windfall heading that away when it led the Huskies 15-2 within the first 4 minutes of the sport.
Then Connecticut reminded the nation why they’re favored to be a back-to-back nationwide title staff. By halftime the Huskies had blitzed the Friars with an 18-point lead, and Windfall couldn’t get well by shedding 74-60.
As one of many first 4 groups out, Windfall might have assured itself a projected match spot by choosing up a sixth Quad 1 win, however the loss as a substitute exhibits how the Friars weren’t in a position to choose up a resume booster ultimately of the common season by shedding three of its final 4. Now like Villanova, the Friars should play a primary spherical recreation within the Huge East Event, and it’d take making the semifinals so as to leap into the bracket.
New Mexico
New Mexico should proceed to reside on the bubble after it fell simply brief in opposition to Mountain West common season champion Utah State 87-85.
It was a back-and-forth contest all recreation, with New Mexico main by as a lot as six with 11 minutes to go. Tied within the closing minutes, Utah State’s Darius Brown II hit a clutch 3-point recreation winner with 5 seconds to go to offer the Aggies the convention title.
It was a disappointing finish to the common season for the Lobos, ending with losses in three of its final 4 that included a horrid Quad 4 loss to Air Power. Of all of the contending Mountain West faculties, New Mexico has the least quantity of Quad 1 wins with solely two, and will probably be the No. 7 seed within the Mountain West match, needing to select up a minimum of a win to remain alive, possibly two.