Maryland [20-13 (7-9), RPI: 54, SOS: 22] The Terrapins once again played one of the ACC's best teams down to the wire before losing to Duke 67-61 in the ACC tourney semifinals Saturday. That might end up being the story of Maryland's season. Maryland finished 7-9 in ACC play after losing at Virginia 68-63 in its regular-season finale, and coach Gary Williams has to wonder whether that loss will come back to haunt his team. Maryland won twice in Atlanta to improve its record to 9-10 against league foes. Maryland has four high-end victories, having beaten North Carolina (home), Michigan State (neutral court), Michigan (home) and Wake Forest (neutral court). The Terps went 4-8 against RPI top-50 foes and 8-11 against the top 100. Just as important, they proved this week they can win away from home after going only 2-6 in road games during the regular season. Maryland's at-large chances probably will come down to the wire, just like many of its games this season.

Providence [19-13 (10-8), RPI: 72, SOS: 54] After Thursday's 18-point loss to Louisville, it doesn't look great for PC. Other teams on the bubble simply have more meat on their résumés. The Friars upset then-No. 1 Pittsburgh 81-73 on Feb. 24 and beat Syracuse 100-94 on Jan. 28. But those are really the only quality wins in Providence's inflated 10-8 finish in Big East play. PC also swept games against Cincinnati and beat Rhode Island at home. It finished 2-8 against RPI top-50 foes and 5-13 against the top 100. The Friars have four blowout road losses in Big East play, having lost at Connecticut by 33 points, Louisville by 18, Villanova by 17 and West Virginia by 27.

Michigan [20-13 (9-9), RPI: 44, SOS: 11] Who thinks the Wolverines stayed up into early Friday morning listening to the analysts talk about how they'd earned an at-large bid by beating Iowa in the Big Ten tournament? The Wolverines didn't seem too inspired to play Illinois in the Big Ten quarterfinals on Friday, falling behind by 20 points in the second half. Give the Wolverines credit for making it a 60-50 game by the end, thus avoiding an ugly blowout defeat that might have raised eyebrows in the NCAA war room. Nonetheless, Michigan has done more than enough to earn an NCAA at-large bid. Michigan's nonconference victories over Duke and UCLA carry a lot of weight on their own, but they're coupled with Big Ten victories over Illinois, Minnesota (twice) and Purdue. The Wolverines should be fine on Selection Sunday.

Wisconsin [19-12 (10-8), RPI: 45, SOS: 20] The Badgers went ice-cold in the closing minutes of their loss to Ohio State on Friday, and a victory over the Buckeyes would have locked up an at-large bid. But Wisconsin still seems to be in pretty good shape for an at-large bid. Even after a six-game losing streak at one point, UW finished 10-8 in Big Ten play. It swept games against fellow Big Ten bubble teams Michigan and Penn State but lost twice to Minnesota. Wisconsin has four RPI top-50 victories, having beaten Illinois and Ohio State at home and having swept the Wolverines. The Badgers are 4-10 against RPI top-50 opponents and 9-11 against the top 100.

Minnesota [22-10 (9-9), RPI: 42, SOS: 37] The Gophers lost seven of their last 11 games, including an eight-point loss to Michigan State on Friday. Unlike fellow bubble resident Penn State, Minnesota has one nonconference gem: a neutral-site victory over Louisville. It's the gift that just keeps giving. The Gophers were 5-8 against RPI top-50 foes, beating Illinois (home), Wisconsin (home and road) and Ohio State (home), in addition to the Cardinals. The Gophers went 3-1 against fellow Big Ten bubble teams Wisconsin and Penn State, which should help on Selection Sunday.

Penn State [22-11 (10-8), RPI: 70, SOS: 119] After trouncing Indiana in their opening-round game in the Big Ten tournament, the Nittany Lions lost to Purdue 79-65 on Friday night. Penn State didn't put up much of a fight against the Boilermakers, so it didn't provide a great lasting impression for the NCAA selection committee. But unless the NCAA just doesn't want eight Big Ten teams in its tournament, it will be hard to ignore Penn State's 10-8 finish in Big Ten play and its six victories over RPI top-50 opponents. Penn State might be penalized for its soft nonconference schedule, but its performance during conference play might be enough to get it in the 65-team field. The Nittany Lions beat Michigan State (road), Illinois (home and road), Purdue (home), Minnesota (home) and Michigan (home). On the other hand, it's hard to get past that No. 313 nonconference strength of schedule. The best win? Against No. 118 Mount St. Mary's. Yikes.

Arizona [19-13 (9-9), RPI: 62, SOS: 36] The Wildcats have appeared in 24 consecutive NCAA tournaments since 1985, the longest active streak in the country and second-longest in history. But that streak appears to be in serious jeopardy after Zona lost to rival Arizona State for the third time this season, 68-56, in the quarterfinals of the Pac-10 tournament in Los Angeles. The Wildcats will present a compelling case with six RPI top-50 victories, having beaten Kansas, Washington, UCLA, USC and San Diego State at home and Gonzaga in Phoenix. The Wildcats were 6-10 against RPI top-50 foes and 8-12 against the top 100. But Arizona might be hurt by its 2-9 record in road games and 1-5 slide at season's end.

Florida [23-10 (9-7), RPI: 52, SOS: 94] After winning the SEC tournament three straight times from 2005 to 2007, the Gators lost their first postseason game for the second consecutive season Friday night. Florida also seems to be in serious danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the second straight time after winning back-to-back national championships in 2006 and '07. There just simply isn't enough meat on Florida's résumé. South Carolina's loss on Friday dropped its RPI rating outside the top 50, leaving the Gators with only one top-50 victory (over Washington on a neutral court). The Gators are 1-5 against RPI top-50 foes and 8-9 against the top 100. Worse, they went 2-7 in road games. That isn't good enough for an at-large bid this season.

South Carolina [21-9 (10-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 95] It's hard to imagine the SEC East co-champions being left out of the NCAA tournament in most seasons, but the Gamecocks simply don't have much to show the selection committee. After going one-and-done in the SEC tournament (losing to Mississippi State on Friday), the Gamecocks don't have a single victory over a team rated in the RPI top 50 -- the closest being a home win over No. 52 Florida. South Carolina might get some mileage out of its 85-84 win at Baylor and its 68-56 victory over Auburn at home. The Gamecocks also swept games against traditional SEC power Kentucky, but that feat won't carry as much weight as it traditionally would have. South Carolina went 0-4 against RPI top-50 foes and 7-8 against the top 100.

Auburn [22-11 (10-6), RPI: 63, SOS: 59] The Tigers probably had to reach the SEC tourney final to earn an at-large bid, and they really never put up much of a fight against Tennessee. Auburn (and possibly South Carolina) would become the first teams to finish 10-6 in SEC play and be left out of the NCAA tournament field since the league split into divisions in 1991-92. (The 2002-03 Georgia team went 11-5, but the school withdrew from the postseason because of NCAA rules violations.) Auburn won 11 times against SEC foes, but that probably isn't enough to earn an at-large bid, at least not this season. Auburn lost to Mercer in its second game and has only two RPI top-50 victories, having beaten Tennessee and LSU at home. Auburn's best nonconference victories came against RPI No. 113 Virginia and No. 188 Tulane. In fact, 16 of the Tigers' 22 victories came against foes ranked outside the RPI top 100.

San Diego State [23-9 (11-5), RPI: 35, SOS: 35] The Aztecs nearly beat Utah to win the MWC tournament Saturday, but their 52-50 loss leaves them holding their collective breath until the NCAA bracket is announced Sunday. San Diego State's chances for an at-large bid are probably 50-50 at best. It has only two RPI top-50 victories, beating league foes BYU 64-62 in Friday's MWC tournament semifinals and Utah 72-63 at home on Jan. 10. In fact, three of its seven RPI top-100 victories came against the same MWC team -- UNLV. The Aztecs are 2-6 against the RPI top 50 and 7-9 against the top 100. Their best nonconference victories came against RPI No. 127 Cal State Northridge and No. 177 Cal-Santa Barbara. San Diego State's 11-5 finish in the MWC standings was nice, but it has little else to show the selection committee.

Creighton [26-7 (14-4), RPI: 40, SOS: 111] The Bluejays might have lost their at-large bid when Cleveland State won the Horizon League tournament, USC won the Pac-10 and Temple won the Atlantic 10. Creighton was routed 73-49 by Illinois State in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, not the kind of impression you want to leave in March. But Creighton still has a pretty good argument for an at-large bid, with victories over RPI top-50 opponents Dayton and Illinois State. The Bluejays also have victories over New Mexico (home) and MVC champion Northern Iowa (road). They're 2-2 against RPI top-50 foes and 9-5 against the top 100. They'll also get help from their more-than-respectable 8-4 record in road games and 11-1 finish.

Saint Mary's [26-6 (10-4), RPI: 48, SOS: 159] Instead of sitting and watching other bubble teams try to win at-large bids, the Gaels played a regular-season game Friday night, beating Eastern Washington 85-65. Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett didn't schedule the game until last week and wanted to use it to showcase point guard Patty Mills. Mills missed his team's final nine regular-season games after breaking his right hand, and he looked shaky in the Gaels' two games in the WCC tournament. Mills scored 19 points on 6-for-14 shooting against Eastern Washington, a 12-18 team from the Big Sky Conference. It was Saint Mary's 26th victory of the season. Only six teams with 26 wins have been left out of the NCAA field. (Creighton, Niagara and Charleston also won 26 games this season.) The Gaels have two victories over RPI top-50 opponents, having beaten Utah State at home and San Diego State on a neutral court. They lost to Gonzaga three times, including an ugly 83-58 defeat in the finals of the WCC tournament. It probably will be a close call on Selection Sunday.