Yes, it’s old news, but Matt Rhule made an important point about the future when he mentioned the Maryland game’s finish at his press conference last week.
You remember those days after Maryland.
No discussions of the crab cake variety. Instead, all about whether the Huskers should’ve run it on a third-and-goal. Get your three points and get out? Asked and answered loudly in some corners.
It’s not mentioned now to be debated some more. Whatever your opinion then probably still stands now. But Matt Rhule actually brought up the ending of that game last week as he was putting the period on a specific point.
Two of the longest NCAA Tournament streaks are in peril as college basketball’s regular season begins to wind down. Michigan State’s and Gonzaga’s active streaks of 25 and 24 years, respectively, in the field could meet their conclusion as both teams stand firmly on CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm’s projected tournament bubble less than a month out from Selection Sunday.
Resume-building opportunities still remain ahead of every bubble team, but matchups against projected postseason teams dwindle by the outing. Conference tournaments also offer last-ditch chances at earning an at-large berth or even removing the anxiety altogether as an automatic qualifier, but handling business in the regular season is much preferred.
Some teams have more reason to panic than others. Measuring these squads on the “panic meter,” those that are mostly safe and must only avoid multiple costly losses hover closer to a rating of 1, while those in dire need of multiple key victories measure around the 10 mark.
