The Arizona Wildcats remain firmly on the bubble for the 2012 NCAA Tournament, but it appears that the team will earn themselves a spot, according to the latest Bracketology update from Joe Lunardi. While most projections around the Internet have the UA either missing March Madness or among the very last few teams invited, Lunardi has the 'Cats as a No. 11 seed and had them trending upwards among bubble teams.
With all the games in the books from Tuesday night, we got yet another update on Arizona's latest standing in the bracket.
According to Lunardi, the team has improved their stock to the highest 11 seed available. Here are his extended rankings for bubble teams:
BUBBLE (26 teams for 14 spots)
IN (14, in S-Curve order): 35-Southern Miss, 36-California, 37-Cincinnati, 38-Alabama, 41-Arizona, 43-Seton Hall, 44-Connecticut, 45-West Virginia, 46-Mississippi State, 47-Brigham Young, 48-Miami (Fla.), 49-Texas, 50-Northwestern, 51-South Florida
Arizona always seems to play better when they're an underdog in the NCAA Tournament and a seed somewhere in the 10-12 range would certainly give them that title. Lunardi had the Wildcats facing Vanderbilt in the first round, with a potential matchup with Michigan looming in the second.
Since the Pac-12 is down this season, all the team can do is continue to win basketball games. While other teams on the bubble rack up multiple losses, the Wildcats can (and should) continue to come away victorious. They may not have a sexy resumé to present to the Selection Committee, but nothing bad has ever come from winning games. At least one win in the conference tournament would also be very beneficial to the Wildcats.
There is still plenty of basketball left to be played and the UA can kiss their March Madness aspirations away with a loss on Sunday against lowly Arizona St., but all signs point towards dancing in March.