Weekend Wrap-up: Top 16 reveal, a WCC showdown, and TWO-BID WAC

We’re at the point in the season where college basketball is beginning to take center stage. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, every single weekend has huge implications moving forward.

This weekend was no different. If you missed some of it, don’t worry. We’ll get you caught up so you don’t look like a fool at the water cooler on Monday.

The Selection Committee left mid-majors out of their Top 16

The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee gave us a preview of what the Top 16 teams are at this point in the season. Guess what? There weren’t any mid-majors!

I know, big surprise, right? There are teams that could definitely make a case to be in that group. Gonzaga has a strong resume, and Rhode Island could probably make a run at a top-four seed if things break right. Until then, however, our beloved mid-majors are on the outside looking in.

Gonzaga gets revenge against Saint Mary’s

Speaking of Gonzaga, the Bulldogs avenged their loss to Saint Mary’s by going into Moraga and beating the Gaels by double-digits. Will had a more detailed recap that you can find here.

The two teams are now tied for first in the WCC at 13-1, and appear to be on a collision course for a WCC title game rubber match. That game could make a big difference when it comes to NCAA Tournament seeding if they can get there.

TWO-BID WAC LIVES ON

The dream of a #TwoBidWAC will not die. New Mexico State got a scare from Grand Canyon on Saturday, but the Aggies pulled away late to remain undefeated in conference play. It won’t come easy though.

New Mexico State will have their toughest test of the conference season this week when they travel to Utah Valley on Thursday. The Aggies handled the Wolverines with ease in the first matchup, but UVU is a different beast at home. NMSU needs this one to keep their at-large hopes alive.

Undefeated Watch

With each passing week, the list of undefeated teams in conference play grows smaller. Penn, Saint Mary’s and Louisiana weren’t able to survive the conference grind last week. Here’s where the list stands right now:

Rhode Island (12-0 Atlantic 10): Next game - 2/13 vs Richmond
New Mexico State (9-0 WAC): Next game - 2/15 at Utah Valley
Florida Gulf Coast (11-0 Atlantic Sun): Next game - 2/15 vs Kennesaw State
Vermont (11-0 America East): Next game - 2/15 vs New Hampshire
East Tennessee State (13-0 SoCon): Next game - 2/12 at UNC Greensboro
Montana (13-0 Big Sky): Next game - 2/15 at Eastern Washington

Here are each team’s odds of finishing the conference season undefeated, courtesy of the Yale Sports Analytics Group:

Caleb Martin back???

On Thursday, it was reported the Nevada swingman Caleb Martin was out indefinitely with a Lisfranc sprain in his left foot. That injury typical usually keeps players out anywhere from six to eight weeks, depending on the severity.

Well, that doesn’t apply to Martin. He apparently was able to return just days after the injury diagnosis, logging 23 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s blowout win over San Diego State. If Martin is able to play through the injury, Nevada’s potential is significantly higher than it is without him (duh). Nevada is still good without him, but they have second weekend potential with him in the mix.