Sixteen Deep - Bubble Trouble

Even though there's a good amount of basketball to be played and a five day conference tournament to pan out, Selection Sunday is right around the corner.

So let's look ahead to which teams are locks, which are on the bubble and which should be looking ahead to their 2010 recruiting classes.

(As of Friday March 5)

Locks: Syracuse (28-2, 15-2), Villanova (24-5, 13-4), West Virginia (23-6, 12-5), Pittsburgh (23-7, 12-5), Marquette (20-9, 11-6), Georgetown (19-9, 9-8)

Sweating: Louisville (19-11, 10-7), Notre Dame (20-10, 9-8), South Florida (18-11, 8-9), Seton Hall (17-11, 8-9), Connecticut (17-13, 7-10), Cincinnati (16-13, 7-10)

"Wait 'til next year. We got this guy coming in, he's really good. In like, three years he's going to be an All-American. . ." : St. John's, Rutgers, Providence, DePaul

The Big East is all but assured at least six teams in the NCAA Tournament. Let's go through the six bubble teams and see what they need to do to get in.

LOUISVILLE:

The Cardinals have one game left - and it's not an easy one. Syracuse comes to Kentucky for the last ever game in Freedom Hall. But before you write off Pitino and his crew, remember they beat Syracuse at the Carrier Dome something only Pittsburgh and Le Moyne could do this year. (And only one really counted, although it was pretty cool.)

Diagnosis: Beat Syracuse and they're in. Otherwise they probably only need to win one game in the Big East Tournament.

NOTRE DAME:

Losing Luke Harangody has really turned into a blessing for the Irish. With a 20/10 guy out of the lineup, those tricky leprechauns knew they had to step up and they most certainly did. And Big Luke might be back for the Big East Tournament which means they could be a dangerous team that's already brimming with confidence.

Diagnosis: Win one more game and they're in.

SOUTH FLORIDA:

The Bulls were a surprise this year and it's really impressive they're even on the bubble. But they lost a couple of games they really had to win like at home against St. John's and one of their road games at Marquette and Notre Dame. They definitely need a couple more wins to get in but they still have a shot.

Diagnosis: Must win vs. Connecticut then at least one win in the Big East Tournament, probably two.

SETON HALL:

Well they took care of business last night against Rutgers (unfortunately). I hate this team honestly and not just because they're Rutgers' heated cross-state rivals or because JeremyHazell is the biggest chucker in the nation, but because they really aren't very impressive in any way. It's a stretch to even have them on the bubble at this point but they did lose four overtime games so they could easily be in right now.

Diagnosis: Must win at Providence. At least two wins in the Big East Tournament, probably three.

UCONN:

They are the strangest team in the league. They are really incredibly talented and in my opinion the most athletic and complete team outside of Syracuse, but they have some absolutely baffling losses. They did play the toughest schedule in the country and have some amazing wins, but their record is just not good enough to play in the tournament unless they make a run.

Diagnosis: At South Florida is essentially an elimination game. Then they probably need to win two games in the Big East tournament to squeak in.

CINCINNATI:

They've lost six of their last eight and really chocked down the stretch. Their neutral court win against Maryland is looking nicer and nicer every day (Way to go Terps) but they still don't have enough unless they beat Georgetown and win a few more games.

Diagnosis: Must win vs. Georgetown and at least two wins in the Big East Tournament.

FINAL VERDICT (my predictions at least):

IN: Louisville, Notre Dame

OUT: UConn, Seton Hall, South Florida, Cincinnati

- Nick