Bubble teams need to make moves

The college basketball season is winding down and it’s time for the NCAA tournament selection committee to zoom in on all those RPIs, SOSs and W-Ls.

The final decisions, at least for some of the final spots, will likely come from the eyeball test. In other words, do they look like NCAA tournament teams?

So, with the regular season starting to wrap up and the conference tournaments starting next week, the teams on the bubble need to make a good impression.

There are still a couple of dozen teams in position to make a move and we’re taking a closer look at six of those.

Iowa State: In a conference that includes No. 3 Kansas, No. 7 Missouri and No. 9 Baylor, the Cyclones have quietly made a case for NCAA tournament consideration. With its win over Kansas State on Saturday, Iowa State has beaten the Wildcats twice and beat then-No. 10 Kansas last month. The Cyclones probably still have a little work to do and don’t have an easy schedule.

Arizona: Sean Miller-coached teams always seem to get better at the end of the season and this one has been no different. Arizona has won seven of its past eight games, with its lone loss coming on the road to Pac-12 leader Washington. With a win over struggling rival Arizona State on Saturday and a decent showing in the conference tournament after that, the Wildcats will likely be headed back to the NCAAs.

Alabama: The Crimson Tide should have gone into a downward spiral the past few weeks after coach Anthony Grant suspended four players, including Tony Mitchell and JaMychal Green, the team’s leading scorers and rebounders. Instead, Alabama has won three straight and six of eight, including a big victory over fellow bubbler Mississippi State on Saturday. A halfway-decent run in the conference tournament should be enough to punch Alabama’s ticket.

Harvard: The Crimson looked like a lock for the NCAA tournament after going 14-2 in nonconference. After Saturday’s one-point loss to Pennsylvania, their lead in the Ivy League is down to a half game over the Quakers. Harvard missed out on its first NCAA berth since the Truman presidency by losing a one-game playoff to Princeton last season and could face another winner-goes-dancing game if it finishes the regular season tied with Penn.

Colorado State: The Rams picked up what appeared to be a huge win over New Mexico last week, but followed it with a loss to No. 21 San Diego State, a game that really could have solidified their résumé. The Rams face what could be a huge look-at-us game against No. 17 UNLV today before closing out the season against Air Force on Saturday.

Virginia Commonwealth: The Rams made an unexpected run to the Final Four last season, have 25 wins and finished a game behind Drexel in the Colonial Athletic Association. Even so, VCU could be left on the outside looking in. Win a few games in the CAA tournament, and the Rams could solidify their chances.