When considering some of the best coaching jobs this season, it would be wrong to not think of West Virginia's Bob Huggins. The Mountaineers blitzed projected No. 3 seed Iowa State by 25 points on Monday and have won four of their past five - the lone loss coming on the road vs. Kansas - to make a serious push toward the NCAA tournament. BRACKETOLOGY: Projecting the field of 68
West Virginia (15-10, 7-5) has built a résumé (74 RPI, 57 SoS) worthy of onsideration based on a winning record in one of the deepest conferences in the country.
Though Huggins' young group is slightly off the bubble in this week's
Bracketology, there's certainly promise heading into the final six-game Big 12 stretch to conclude the regular season - which starts at Texas on Saturday.
More than anything, the Mountaineers' latest surge has positioned them in the middle-of-the-pack in the Big 12 Conference standings and illustrates the strength of the league, which has been considered by many to be college basketball's toughest conference this season.
West Virginia Mountaineers guard Juwan Staten (3) celebrates with guard Terry Henderson (15) after hitting the game winning shot against the Baylor Bears at The Ferrell Center.(Photo: Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports)
It also highlights Huggins' impressive work with a reshuffled team. WVU jettisoned problem players in Aaric Murray, Jabarie Hinds and Keaton Miles and also have been without Elijah Macon and Jonathan Holton due to eligibility issues. Junior Juwan Staten (18.3 ppg, 6.0 apg, 5.9 rpg, 35 points vs. K-State) has been one of the best point guards in the country, while Eron Harris (17.4 ppg) has been a fitting partner in the backcourt. Regardless of whether or not West Virginia makes the field of 68, the future looks bright in Morgantown.
*** American Athletic Conference - Team résumés Atlantic Coast Conference - Team résumés North Carolina State: 16-8 (6-5) 55 RPI, 40 SoS | The Good: Win over Tennessee | The Bad: Loss to North Carolina Central Atlantic 10 - Team résumés Big East - Team résumés Big Ten - Team résumés Big 12 - Team résumés Mountain West Pac 12 - Team résumés SEC - Team résumés
With five weeks remaining until Selection Sunday, one thing remains certain: The committee is going to take 36 at-large teams. So, we welcome back USA TODAY Sports' annual
Bubble Tracker to provide breakdowns of the strength and weaknesses of borderline teams. Data as of Feb. 13.
Others: Assume these teams do not win their conference tourney and secure the auto-bid.
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Note: All RPI and statistical data is used from WarrenNolan.com. ALL THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL ACTION THIS WEEK
About our bracketologist: Shelby Mast has been projecting the field since 2005 and has finished as one of the top 5 national bracketologists for his website, Bracket W.A.G. He's predicted for The Indianapolis Star and collegeinsider.com and is an inaugural member of the Super 10 Selection Committee. Follow him on Twitter @BracketWag.
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