Bracketology Bubble Watch: Kentucky takes costly loss at home; Michigan can’t afford to lose to Nebraska

It was a rough night Tuesday for a couple of blue bloods who are still hoping to make the NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky took the biggest loss of the evening, falling at home to fellow SEC bubbler Arkansas 88-73. The Wildcats are now just 1-7 against Quad 1 opposition with the two most recent of those losses coming at Rupp Arena. Not beating Kansas at home is a lost opportunity for a splashy win. Not beating Arkansas is simply not taking care of business.

The win is a big boost for Arkansas though, which now has two Quad 1 wins away from home. The Razorbacks need to continue to play well because their upcoming schedule gives them good chances to play their way into safety. That could be important because their final three games are at Alabama, at Tennessee and the rematch at home with Kentucky.

North Carolina was down 22 at the half at Wake Forest and while it made a run to get a respectable score late, it ended as a 92-85 win for the Demon Deacons. The Tar Heels drop to 1-8 against Quad 1 opposition and that win is against 11-12 Ohio State. Their only win over a likely at-large team came at home over NC State.

For Wake Forest, it means a season split with UNC and adds another Quad 2 win to the register. The Demon Deacons still need more Quad 1 wins and wins against better teams away from home. Their win at Wisconsin is the only one in either Quads 1 or 2 away from home.

In the Mountain West, Nevada completed a season sweep of New Mexico with a 77-76 win at The Pit. It moves the Wolfpack ahead of the Lobos in the MWC pecking order as we head to the final month of the season.

Wednesday schedules are always packed and this is no exception with 11 bubble teams in action.

NCAA Tournament locks

Locks based on resume: 5 | Bids secured: 0 | At-large spots remaining: 31

On the cut line

Check out all the teams on Palm’s Bubble Watch, the field of the 68 and the entire bracket on the Bracketology hub  

Wednesday’s ‘Double Bubble’ game

Wisconsin at Penn State

8:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network, fuboTV (Try for free) 

Other bubble teams in action Wednesday

All references to NCAA Tournament selection records and trends refer to pre-pandemic tournaments. Due to shortened schedules and a relatively small number of nonconference games in 2021, those rankings were not reliable enough to be considered.