Sportsfrog.com

The 2009 bracketology season is in its death rattle phase, as the actual thing is 10 hours away from reality. I have to think that L’ville wrapped up a 1 seed by adding the conference tourney title to their regular season Big East title. Strong. For my money, UNC, Pitt, and UConn will join them, giving the Big East three #1 seeds, a first for a conference.

—Updated bubble musings from sportsline.com.

—Gary Parrish’s thinking at sportsline is that Auburn’s tournament dreams died with its loss yesterday, among other notes as we head into bracket day. He’s perhaps very on point with this:

Final thought: Duke’s 67-61 win over Maryland in the ACC tournament semifinals was the Blue Devils’ third against the Terrapins, their 10th against a team included in Jerry Palm’s Saturday morning bracket projections. To put this in perspective, consider that possible No. 1 seed Pittsburgh has eight such wins, Connecticut has eight, Louisville has seven, North Carolina has six, and Memphis has two. So I ask: If the Blue Devils (No. 2 in the RPI) win the ACC tournament, should they get a No. 1 seed? There would certainly be a case to be made. And I think I could make it well.

That’s somewhat compelling. Duke in place of UConn as a #1 seed? I could see that. Chatter continues on all the tournaments, the #1 seed uncertainty, and will certainly include bracket chatter in the Swamp. Swing by with a thought or two.

…the bubble issues just expanded for those teams on the cusp of the tournament, as USC will be taking one of the available spots. Unexpectedly. Heck of a comeback for the Trojans, who looked buried at halftime.

…is announced.

The jockeying for position and entrance into the NCAA tournament this year has been epic. Having so many bubble teams from large conferences will do that. Not to mention the fact that the top seeds behind North Carolina and likely Pitt are so unsettled. Time for one last spin around the bracket guessers before it all gets locked in tomorrow evening:

—Joe Lunardi says the A-10 has shortened the bubble, as the winner of the Duquense/Temple final will join Xavier and Dayton in making it a three bid league. Ouch.

—Who should bubble teams (Creighton, Minnesota, Penn State and Providence to name a few) be rooting for today? Memphis (or else C-USA becomes a two bid league), Utah State over Nevada in the WAC, Missouri over Baylor in the Big 12 (Baylor had lost 10 of 12 before their rather improbable run in the conference tourney was launched), among others.

—Bracketology

—si.com’s Bubble Watch update notes that the SEC may only be a two-bid league (LSU and Tennessee) despite Kentucky being a 20-win team after UK’s loss to LSU in the conference quarterfinals. They’ve also still got Maryland on the outside looking in and needing to beat Duke to dance.

—Jerry Palm’s guess on cbssports.com

—Best reading out there? In my view, Gary Parrish’s wrap-up of Friday and look ahead to Saturday in his Gettin’ In series on cbssports.com, including this note on the Terps:

Maryland was out of Jerry Palm’s Friday morning bracket, which wasn’t good for Gary Williams’ long-term career plans. But a 75-64 victory over Wake Forest in the ACC tournament quarterfinals might’ve fixed that problem, because the Terrapins now have wins over North Carolina, Michigan State and Wake Forest — i.e., a pair of possible No. 1 seeds and another likely top-four seed — to help offset a questionable 13-12 record against the top 200 of the RPI.

What a bizarre resume. A win over Duke would likely settle the question for them.

Full day of games today, with tournament impacts all over the place. Enjoy. Plenty of chatter in the Swamp, drop by with a thought or two.

In the second half.

Texas A&M just blew a 19 point halftime lead to Texas Tech to cap off the first day of the Big XII Tournament.

Singletary became Texas Tech’s option A, B and C during the comeback. He drained three pointers, he banked in shots off the glass from just outside the lane. He made his free throws. Singletary flat out couldn’t miss–save for a free throw or two–in the final 10 minutes of the game. He finished with 43 points on 14-20 shooting from the field, including 3-4 from behind the arc and went 12-14 from the free throw line. (And he didn’t start)

As a Missouri fan, this is a nice little development, as I don’t fear Tech as much as I do A&M. And what does this do to A&M’s tournament hopes? They were probably one of the last teams in before tonight, and you have to wonder if the selection committee is sliding them down their boards as we speak.

Of course, if Texas Tech scores 59 points a half tomorrow night, no one has a chance.