March Madness Bubble Watch: Conference Tournaments Heat Up as Selection Sunday Approaches

The college basketball landscape is reaching its crescendo as conference tournaments begin across the nation, with dozens of teams fighting for their March Madness lives in what has become one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.

Bracketology experts have identified at least 15 teams currently sitting on the dreaded bubble, with their tournament fate likely to be determined over the next two weeks of conference play. Leading the charge among bubble teams are schools like Seton Hall, Texas A&M, and Colorado State, all of whom need strong showings in their respective conference tournaments to secure at-large bids.

The Big 12 continues to assert itself as the premier conference in college basketball, with seven teams currently projected to make the tournament field. Kansas leads the way as a projected No. 1 seed, followed closely by Iowa State and Baylor as potential No. 2 seeds. However, the middle of the conference remains a logjam, with teams like Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, and West Virginia all needing quality wins to solidify their positions.

In the ACC, Duke has emerged as a legitimate national championship contender behind the stellar play of freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, who is averaging 22.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The Blue Devils' recent victory over North Carolina in the regular season finale has positioned them as a potential No. 1 seed heading into next week's ACC Tournament in Greensboro.

The biggest surprise of the season has been the resurgence of programs like Auburn and Tennessee in the SEC. Auburn's Bruce Pearl has orchestrated one of his finest coaching jobs, guiding the Tigers to a share of the SEC regular season title despite losing several key players to injury early in the season. Tennessee, meanwhile, has quietly built one of the nation's most efficient offenses under Rick Barnes.

Several mid-major conferences are poised to send multiple teams to the Big Dance. The Mountain West could potentially get five bids, led by San Diego State and New Mexico, while the West Coast Conference's Gonzaga and Saint Mary's both appear to be locks for the tournament. The America East has been particularly competitive this season, with Vermont and Maine both earning consideration for at-large bids.

Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 15th, followed by the First Four games in Dayton on March 19th and 20th. The First and Second Rounds will take place March 21st-24th at eight different sites across the country, with the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games scheduled for the following weekend in four regional locations.