Post by n00b on Nov 18, 2015 18:40:44 GMT -5
Since there is a lot of interest in the bubble even though there aren't a lot of posters from actual bubble teams, I thought it would be good to have a quasi-game-thread to track all matches affecting the bubble.
Friday, November 20
Providence at Villanova (5:00, College Sports Live) - Should be an easy win for Villanova, but they can't afford to stumble here. Villanova won the previous matchup 25-15, 25-12, 12-25, 26-24. Video LiveStats
Western Kentucky vs Marshall (6:00, Conference USA Digital Network) - Conference USA Quarterfinal at UTSA. The Hilltoppers are in, but bubble teams everywhere are praying that they take care of business in the conference tournament to not allow a second CUSA team to steal a bid. 9/23/15 WKU def MAR 22-25, 25-20, 25-10, 25-13; 11/12/15 WKU def MAR 25-17, 25-13, 25-21. Video LiveStats
Marquette at Butler (6:00) - Marquette should be in, but I would suggest they not go on a losing streak to end the season. Butler knocked off bubble team Villanova at home last week. Marquette won the previous meeting in Milwaukee 20-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-21. Video LiveStats
Idaho State vs Idaho (6:30, WatchBigSky.com) - Big Sky Quarterfinal at Northern Arizona. Must win for Idaho State to have any hope for an at large. Idaho State won the regular season meeting 25-16, 26-24, 25-18. Video LiveStats
Duke at Miami FL (7:00, ESPN3) - Miami is pretty safe as long as they don't fall apart down the stretch. The Hurricanes won in Durham earlier this year 25-22, 26-28, 19-25, 25-19, 15-12. Video
Boston College at Pittsburgh (7:00, College Sports Live) - Like Miami, Pitt is probably in. The reason I don't think these ACC teams are locks quite yet is that each have several opportunities for bad losses, like this match against Boston College. Take care of the ACC's cellar dwellers and the Panthers will be dancing. Pitt beat BC 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 on October 11th. Video LiveStats
NC State at Virginia (7:00, College Sports Live) - Virginia is an ACC team that needs a strong finish. They have big opportunities against North Carolina and Pitt coming up, but can't afford to stumble here against NC State. Virginia won the previous match 25-22, 25-18, 25-23. Video LiveStats
Washington at Oregon (7:00, Pac-12 Network) - Oregon's fate may be decided in this match. Needing to get a win against #2 Washington is not a great place to be in, but it is where the Ducks find themselves. Washington swept Oregon 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 earlier this year. LiveStats
Arkansas State at Georgia Southern (7:30, ESPN3) - Sun Belt Quarterfinal. What will the committee do with a 2-loss team from the Sun Belt with a top 20 RPI but zero top 40 wins? The Red Wolves don't want to find out and neither do the other bubble teams. Arkansas State has already swept Georgia Southern twice this year. Video LiveStats
Southern Illinois at Wichita State (8:00, ESPN3) - A battle between the Valley's top two teams. Both have RPIs good enough to get an at large but not a ton on the resume otherwise. The winner here picks up a very nice win to add to the resume. Southern Illinois won their first meeting 28-26, 26-28, 25-20, 22-25, 15-10. Video Audio LiveStats
Evansville at Missouri State (8:00, ESPN3) - The Bears must take care of business here against Evansville. Missouri State beat Evansville 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 earlier this month. Video LiveStats
USC at Arizona (8:00) - Arizona is squarely on the bubble. A win here is not necessary to get in, but if the Wildcats can pull off the upset, it would be hard to see the committee leaving them out. The Trojans defeated UA 29-27, 25-22, 26-28, 25-14 in mid-October. Video LiveStats
Bradley at Northern Iowa (8:00, ESPN3) - Northern Iowa needs a strong finish so a win over a poor Bradley team is a must. UNI swept the Braves 25-20, 25-18, 25-19 at the beginning of the conference season. Video Audio LiveStats
Syracuse at Virginia Tech (8:00) - Syracuse is a fringe bubble team that needs to win out (including Pitt and Louisville) and hope that's enough. They need to get by the Hokies in Blacksburg first. The Orange won their previous meeting 25-20, 18-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-7. LiveStats
UCLA at Arizona State (9:00, Pac-12 Arizona, Los Angeles) - I think I'm still the only one who doesn't think Arizona State is a lock, but I think the Sun Devil faithful will be a little nervous if they lose their four remaining matches (which isn't unreasonable against UCLA, USC, Oregon and Arizona). UCLA defeated the Sun Devils 25-21, 25-16, 30-28 on October 18th.
Sacramento State at Northern Arizona (9:00, WatchBigSky.com) - Northern Arizona still has a very solid RPI that could survive a loss here, but I'm sure the Lumberjacks (and the rest of the nation's bubble teams) don't want to test the committee to find out if they could give the Big Sky two tournament bids. Sacramento State knocked off NAU early in the year (17-25, 14-25, 25-23, 28-30 on Sep 26), but the Lumberjacks later avenged that loss (25-17, 18-25, 25-18, 25-19 on Nov 12). Video LiveStats
Cal State Fullerton at Long Beach (10:00, Big West TV) - Long Beach is not in great shape and doesn't have chances left to pick up a quality win. They need to win out and hope that's enough. Long Beach swept Fullerton 25-13, 25-18, 25-17 earlier this month. Video Audio LiveStats
Friday, November 20
Providence at Villanova (5:00, College Sports Live) - Should be an easy win for Villanova, but they can't afford to stumble here. Villanova won the previous matchup 25-15, 25-12, 12-25, 26-24. Video LiveStats
Western Kentucky vs Marshall (6:00, Conference USA Digital Network) - Conference USA Quarterfinal at UTSA. The Hilltoppers are in, but bubble teams everywhere are praying that they take care of business in the conference tournament to not allow a second CUSA team to steal a bid. 9/23/15 WKU def MAR 22-25, 25-20, 25-10, 25-13; 11/12/15 WKU def MAR 25-17, 25-13, 25-21. Video LiveStats
Marquette at Butler (6:00) - Marquette should be in, but I would suggest they not go on a losing streak to end the season. Butler knocked off bubble team Villanova at home last week. Marquette won the previous meeting in Milwaukee 20-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-21. Video LiveStats
Idaho State vs Idaho (6:30, WatchBigSky.com) - Big Sky Quarterfinal at Northern Arizona. Must win for Idaho State to have any hope for an at large. Idaho State won the regular season meeting 25-16, 26-24, 25-18. Video LiveStats
Duke at Miami FL (7:00, ESPN3) - Miami is pretty safe as long as they don't fall apart down the stretch. The Hurricanes won in Durham earlier this year 25-22, 26-28, 19-25, 25-19, 15-12. Video
Boston College at Pittsburgh (7:00, College Sports Live) - Like Miami, Pitt is probably in. The reason I don't think these ACC teams are locks quite yet is that each have several opportunities for bad losses, like this match against Boston College. Take care of the ACC's cellar dwellers and the Panthers will be dancing. Pitt beat BC 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 on October 11th. Video LiveStats
NC State at Virginia (7:00, College Sports Live) - Virginia is an ACC team that needs a strong finish. They have big opportunities against North Carolina and Pitt coming up, but can't afford to stumble here against NC State. Virginia won the previous match 25-22, 25-18, 25-23. Video LiveStats
Washington at Oregon (7:00, Pac-12 Network) - Oregon's fate may be decided in this match. Needing to get a win against #2 Washington is not a great place to be in, but it is where the Ducks find themselves. Washington swept Oregon 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 earlier this year. LiveStats
Arkansas State at Georgia Southern (7:30, ESPN3) - Sun Belt Quarterfinal. What will the committee do with a 2-loss team from the Sun Belt with a top 20 RPI but zero top 40 wins? The Red Wolves don't want to find out and neither do the other bubble teams. Arkansas State has already swept Georgia Southern twice this year. Video LiveStats
Southern Illinois at Wichita State (8:00, ESPN3) - A battle between the Valley's top two teams. Both have RPIs good enough to get an at large but not a ton on the resume otherwise. The winner here picks up a very nice win to add to the resume. Southern Illinois won their first meeting 28-26, 26-28, 25-20, 22-25, 15-10. Video Audio LiveStats
Evansville at Missouri State (8:00, ESPN3) - The Bears must take care of business here against Evansville. Missouri State beat Evansville 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 earlier this month. Video LiveStats
USC at Arizona (8:00) - Arizona is squarely on the bubble. A win here is not necessary to get in, but if the Wildcats can pull off the upset, it would be hard to see the committee leaving them out. The Trojans defeated UA 29-27, 25-22, 26-28, 25-14 in mid-October. Video LiveStats
Bradley at Northern Iowa (8:00, ESPN3) - Northern Iowa needs a strong finish so a win over a poor Bradley team is a must. UNI swept the Braves 25-20, 25-18, 25-19 at the beginning of the conference season. Video Audio LiveStats
Syracuse at Virginia Tech (8:00) - Syracuse is a fringe bubble team that needs to win out (including Pitt and Louisville) and hope that's enough. They need to get by the Hokies in Blacksburg first. The Orange won their previous meeting 25-20, 18-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-7. LiveStats
UCLA at Arizona State (9:00, Pac-12 Arizona, Los Angeles) - I think I'm still the only one who doesn't think Arizona State is a lock, but I think the Sun Devil faithful will be a little nervous if they lose their four remaining matches (which isn't unreasonable against UCLA, USC, Oregon and Arizona). UCLA defeated the Sun Devils 25-21, 25-16, 30-28 on October 18th.
Sacramento State at Northern Arizona (9:00, WatchBigSky.com) - Northern Arizona still has a very solid RPI that could survive a loss here, but I'm sure the Lumberjacks (and the rest of the nation's bubble teams) don't want to test the committee to find out if they could give the Big Sky two tournament bids. Sacramento State knocked off NAU early in the year (17-25, 14-25, 25-23, 28-30 on Sep 26), but the Lumberjacks later avenged that loss (25-17, 18-25, 25-18, 25-19 on Nov 12). Video LiveStats
Cal State Fullerton at Long Beach (10:00, Big West TV) - Long Beach is not in great shape and doesn't have chances left to pick up a quality win. They need to win out and hope that's enough. Long Beach swept Fullerton 25-13, 25-18, 25-17 earlier this month. Video Audio LiveStats