Hodger's National Notes

Bubble Notes (Feb. 28)
1. Kentucky continues to roll, beating Ole Miss at home. It's now really pretty simple for the Wildcats. If they somehow win at Tennessee on Sunday (highly doubtful), that would all but punch UK's ticket to the NCAA.
2. West Virginia, a winner at DePaul, is probably the Big East's weakest bubble team. But if the Mountaineers finish 11-7 in the Big East (currently 9-6), it will be difficult for the Selection Committee to leave them out.
3. Mid-major conference leaders and/or at-large candidates Davidson, George Mason, Illinois State & VCU all win at home. ISU's win over Creighton (#53 in the RPI) is especially significant, as it gives the Redbirds another top-100 win (now 6-2 vs. top 100) while at the same time knocking Creighton completely out of the at-large picture.
4. Squarely-on-the-bubble Florida gets a must-win in Athens vs. Georgia.
5. Houston still solidly in the mix (only because the bubble is weak) after routing Southern Miss at home. Ditto for UAB, which picks up a crucial top-100 road win at #93 UTEP.
6. Western Kentucky wins at FIU, keeps alive its slim hopes for an at-large bid.
7. Three weeks ago Rhode Island appeared to be a lock for the NCAA field. Now, after losing its fifth straight, this time to lowly George Washington, URI is off the board.
8. Nebraska on the board for the first time after routing Oklahoma. The Huskers (#96 in the RPI) have won three straight, all vs. likely NCAA squads (K-State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma).
Wednesday's Most Significant Win? Illinois State over Creighton (MVC might get its 2 bids after all).
Thursday's Bubble Slate
Saint Louis at Saint Joseph's (ESPN2)
Maryland at Wake Forest
New Orleans at South Alabama
UCLA at Arizona State
Washington State at Cal