Bubble watch: Memphis win in the AAC semifinals lets the bubble breath a sigh of relief

A look at the NCAA Tournament bubble picture:

Holding on

We've reached the point where most bubble teams are done playing in their conference tournaments. It's just a question of how many spots will be left for them.

That depends on whether there are any more bid thieves. No. 16 Memphis held on for a one-point win over Tulane in the AAC Tournament on Saturday, and Virginia Commonwealth advanced in the Atlantic 10. If either of those teams lose, it will enter the at-large pool, which would be bad news for the rest of the bubble.

The experts say ...

ESPN's last four in: Vanderbilt, San Diego State, Xavier, Boise State.

CBS Sports' last four in: West Virginia, Boise State, Indiana, San Diego State.

Sports Illustrated's last four in: Arkansas, San Diego State, Indiana, Boise State.

Washington Post's last four in: San Diego State, Vanderbilt, Texas, Indiana.

ESPN's first four out: Indiana, North Carolina, Texas, Dayton.

CBS Sports' first four out: Xavier, Texas, North Carolina, Wake Forest.

Sports Illustrated's first four out: Texas, North Carolina, Xavier, UC Irvine.

Washington Post's first four out: North Carolina, Xavier, Boise State, Ohio State.

Up next

Another game to watch for a possible bid thief: UC San Diego faces UC Irvine on Saturday night in the Big West final. Bubble teams should be rooting for UCSD.

Automatic bids so far

SIU Edwardsville (Ohio Valley), Omaha (Summit), Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun), High Point (Big South), Drake (Missouri Valley), Wofford (Southern), Troy (Sun Belt), Robert Morris (Horizon), UNC-Wilmington (Coastal Athletic), St. Francis, Pa. (Northeast), Gonzaga (WCC), McNeese (Southland), American (Patriot), Montana (Big Sky), Bryant (America East), Norfolk State (MEAC).