GAINESVILLE -- It's bubble time for college basketball. Call me Mr. Bubble of the SEC. As the song goes, "I'm forever blowing bubbles. Pretty bubbles in the air."
So many bubble games for teams to blow this weekend around the SEC. Let's take a look around the bubble factory.
VANDERBILT (16-9, 5-6) AT FLORIDA (20-6, 7-4), 3 p.m. Sat
The Commodores appear bound for the NIT at this point but they did just defeat Kentucky and have important bubble games remaining against UF, South Carolina and LSU (away). Vandy is 1-4 in road conference games this season with its lone away victory coming against Auburn. Some people say Florida plays basketball like this famous person lived his life. I strongly disagree! The Gators are trying the best they can, according to their coach, and they're only "bad" loss was to Georgia, according to me. People also say UF can't win an important conference game on the road. I strongly disagree! UF knocked off Auburn and Vandy. As you're about to find out, that win at Auburn is looking sweeter every day.
AUBURN (17-9, 6-5) AT LSU (22-4, 10-1), 8 p.m. Sat
Winners of their last four games (Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Georgia), the Auburn Tigers are the hottest team in the league. Auburn still doesn't have a ticket to the SEC's NCAA Tournament bubble party, but Tigers could earn one very quickly with a win at LSU. LSU is a bubble eater, though.
TENNESSEE (16-9, 7-4) AT KENTUCKY (18-8, 7-4), 1 p.m. Sat
People tell me that Tennessee is on the bubble. I disagree. While some SEC teams were playing non-conference games against opponents like Florida A&M, Tennessee was actually playing (and defeating) real basketball teams. Tennessee is in. No Bubbles. Kentucky, on the other hand, needs a few more wins to bolster their resume. The Wildcats can't lose another game at home.
ARKANSAS (13-11, 1-10) AT SOUTH CAROLINA (18-6, 7-4), 7 p.m. Sat
South Carolina can't afford a home loss this late in the season either. Especially to a team that has lost 10 of its last 11 games. Arkansas might be terrible when it comes to conference play, but the Hogs did (somehow) defeat Texas and Oklahoma this season.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (17-9, 7-4) AT ALABAMA (13-12, 3-8), 3 p.m. Sat
If State loses this game, then its days on the bubble are done.
-jo-
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