March Madness Bubble Watch: Conference Championships Determine Final At-Large Bids

With Selection Sunday just around the corner, conference championship week has arrived with massive implications for teams sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Several unexpected results have already shaken up bracket projections and created new storylines heading into March Madness.

The biggest surprise came in the Atlantic 10 Championship, where 11th-seeded George Mason upset top-seeded VCU in a thrilling overtime contest. The Patriots improbable tournament run not only earned them an automatic bid but likely knocked a deserving at-large team out of the field of 68.

Meanwhile, Duke secured the ACC Tournament title with a dominant performance against North Carolina in the championship game. The Blue Devils balanced scoring attack and suffocating defense proved too much for the Tar Heels, giving coach Jon Scheyer his second conference tournament title and strengthening Duke position as a potential number one seed.

In the Big Ten, Purdue continued their strong season by claiming the tournament championship with victories over Indiana and Michigan State. The Boilermakers size advantage in the paint dominated throughout the tournament, with center Zach Edey earning Most Outstanding Player honors for his incredible performances.

The bubble picture remains murky with several teams fighting for the final at-large spots. Teams like Indiana State, New Mexico, and Virginia are sweating out Selection Sunday after failing to capture their conference tournaments. Each team has strong resume components but also concerning losses that could keep them out of the field.

Conference tournament upsets always create Selection Sunday drama, and this year is no different. Mid-major champions like George Mason and potential surprise winners in remaining tournaments could push traditional power conference teams to the NIT instead of March Madness.

Bracket experts are predicting one of the most competitive Selection Committee meetings in recent memory, with legitimate arguments for several teams that will ultimately be left out. The final bracket reveal on Sunday will determine which programs get to continue their championship dreams and which ones will spend the summer wondering what might have been.