Bursting the Bubble: Who You're Rooting Against

Welcome to a new daily post here on First and Short where we'll take March Madness to a new level.

Say your team is Clemson. You're team is sitting right near the bubble and will need some wins (and some help) to make its way into the 68 team bracket. We'll show you the teams that you want to lose so that your beloved team can make its way into the field. If your team is listed, then you might doing something right.

Teams who are in great shape and unlikely to fall out of the tournament will not be on the list (RPI's in the 20s or better). We use the University of North Florida's NCAA Tournament "Dance Card" for RPI and bubble position. The "Dance Card" correctly predicted all 37 at-large tournament teams. The year before, it correctly predicted 36 of the 37 teams, so we'll say they've got a pretty reliable formula.

Without further ado, here is who you're rooting against today, February 20:

BYU - RPI: 49. The Cougars are currently on the right side of the bubble, and can really get an RPI boost with a win tonight when they host No. 25 Gonzaga. Gonzaga is not in any trouble to miss the tournament so bubble teams will root for them to continue their success tonight at 11pm. Game is on ESPN2.

Nebraska - RPI: 54. Nebraska has been a surprise team this year. With quality wins over Michigan State and Ohio State, The Cornhuskers host Penn. State tonight in a game they should win handily at 7pm. As is the case with many games down the stretch, a win won't solidify a spot in the dance, whereas a loss would cripple Nebraska's RPI. Game is on ESPNU.

Toledo - RPI: 45. Toledo is in good shape to jump in and steal an at-large bid from a school in a major conference if they don't win the MAC Tournament. Tonight they head to Bowling Green, a team they beat by seven at home earlier in the season. This is a game that won't boost their RPI with a win, but a loss would really hurt their at-large chances. Game is at 9pm on ESPNU.

Bursting the Bubble: Who You're Rooting Against

Welcome to a new daily post here on First and Short where we'll take March Madness to a new level.

Say your team is NC State. You're team is sitting right near the bubble and will need some wins (and some help) to make its way into the 68 team bracket. We'll show you the teams that you want to lose so that your beloved team can make its way into the field. If your team is listed, then you might doing something right.

Teams who are in great shape and unlikely to fall out of the tournament will not be on the list (RPI's in the 20s or better). We use the University of North Florida's NCAA Tournament "Dance Card" for RPI and bubble position. The "Dance Card" correctly predicted all 37 at-large tournament teams. The year before, it correctly predicted 36 of the 37 teams, so we'll say they've got a pretty reliable formula.

Without further ado, here is who you're rooting against today, February 19:

Marquette - RPI: 71. The Golden Eagles could get a big boost as they host No. 11 Creighton tonight at 8pm. Creighton is a 3 point favorite tonight, so this could be a great chance for Marquette to get a very quality win. Game is on Fox Sports 1.

SMU - RPI: 56. The Mustangs are 14 point favorites over Houston tonight at 8pm. A win won't give them much of a boost, but a loss would really knock SMU down a peg, which is good for the rest of y'all bubblers. Game is on ESPN News.

Indiana State - RPI: 65. The Sycamores host Evansville tonight at 7:05. Like SMU, this is a game where winning won't improve Indiana State's stock, but a loss would really hurt- as the Sycamores aren't currently in the field. Indiana State is an 11 point favorite. Game is on ESPN3.

LSU- RPI: 67. Like SMU and Indiana State, LSU shoud win easily tonight. They host Mississippi State as a 14 point favorite 8pm. A loss would be crippling to the Tigers, but is very unlikely. Game is on ESPN3.

Missouri - RPI: 36. Missouri hosts Vanderbilt tonight in an SEC match-up. The Tigers are on the right side of the bubble, but if they are to lose, that could open the door for the Commodores, who have an RPI of 76. I'd say you would want to root for Vanderbilt, as they're unlikely to climb into the tournament, whereas the Tigers could easily fall out. Missouri is a 9 point favorite. Game is on ESPN3.

Arkansas - RPI: 59. Arkansas is on the outside looking in here. A 12 point favorite against a sub-500 South Carolina team tonight at 9pm. Again, a loss hurts more than a win helps the Razorbacks tonight, as this wouldn't be considered a quality win. Game is on ESPN3.

Oregon - RPI: 38. Oregon is a 10 point favorite over Washington tonight at home. This is an important game because Washington has an RPI of 73 and could work there way onto the bubble with some quality wins, but they are not currently a huge threat to make the big dance. Game is at 9pm on ESPN2.

If NC State's basketball team was the Mighty Ducks

This year’s NC State basketball team is young, talented, full of characters and according to most of the experts, they are over-achieving.

Remind you of anyone? Maybe a pee-wee hockey team with a variety of personalities from Minnesota that defied the odds multiple times en route to multiple titles, one even being a Junior Goodwill Games title.

Now this State team hasn’t won any tournaments, and really doesn’t have many wins of value to speak of, but the parallels are undeniable. We might even see the Pack roll out the "Flying V" later on this season. Check it out!

The Roster

We have to start with the Captain. State’s on-court leader and point guard is Tyler Lewis. The under-sized, local kid is like a coach on the court for the Pack. Maybe involuntarily, he’s even given up some of his playing time to a new teammate. Tyler Lewis is Captain Duck, Charlie Conway.

Next we go with the Pack’s best player- T.J. Warren. Warren is the go-to guy for State this season, leading the team (and conference) in points per game. He missed one game with an ankle injury which he’s since played through in recent games. Warren’s father Tony, played for the Pack in the late 1970’s and was later selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1979 NBA draft. Hmm, best player, played through injuries, and has a successful father? T.J. Warren is definitely Adam “Cake Eater” Banks.

NC State’s struggles from three-point land have been well documented this season, much like the Mighty Ducks’ inability to score on shots from long distance in the Junior Goodwill Games. So the Pack went out and got a newcomer who could shoot the long ball, that player is LSU-transfer Ralston Turner. Turner has more than twice as many made three-pointers as any other Wolfpack player. Turner’s awkward release reminds us another newcomer with an unorthodox shot that fueled the Ducks to a title, with a “knuckle-puck.” Ralston Turner is Russ Tyler.

When it comes to defense and shot-blocking, bigger is often better. No one portrays this better than BeeJay Anya. Arguably the team’s biggest goofball, Anya uses his wide body and long arms to deter opposing shots at an alarming rate. His rim-protecting reminds us of another outgoing, wide-bodied man that loves to protect the net: BeeJay Anya is Greg Goldberg.

Next we have a power forward tandem that does all of the dirty work for the Pack: Lennard Freeman and Kyle Washington. We'll start with Freeman, who is one of the Pack’s best rebounders, he also does the little things to intimidate the opponent. Lennard Freeman is Dean Portman.

Kyle Washington also uses his size to be a bully on both sides of the ball, and while more of a scorer than Freeman, he still lacks efficiency… say, one out of five or so?? Washington is the second Bash Brother, Fulton Reed.

A newcomer for the Pack that has provided a lift with his skills and athleticism is Anthony “Cat” Barber. Barber has been very productive for State, using his speed and quickness to get to the basket often. This one was easy, as the Ducks also had a new player who used their quick reactions to earn valuable minutes during games. Anthony “Cat” Barber is Julie “The Cat” Gaffney.

State is full of new guys who help them offensively. One of them is guard Desmond Lee. Lee is one of State’s best players at getting to the basket, but finishing once he gets there has been an issue for the junior college transfer. The Ducks also had a cross-country transfer who was great at getting to the basket, but like Lee, struggled to stay under control and finish. Dez Lee is smooth talking, and lightning fast, forward Luis Mendoza.

Jordan Vandenberg is the lone senior on the NC State’s roster. The 7-foot Australian is known to be a guy who helps keep things light in the locker room. Injuries have kept the center out of the line-up at times, including an ankle injury that sidelined him for the first four games of the season. The Ducks had an adventurous, original member who struggled with injuries as well. Jordan Vandenberg is Lester Averman.

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