Auto-Bid Watch 2/8/2008

Some of these teams are just three weeks away from their conference tournaments, so this is the time for the elite to gain separation and lock down the #1 conference seed. Let's see who's done that.

One difference today. With Memphis running away with C-USA, I don't really feel the need to assess their chances every week. So we'll put them in with the RPI top-ten. Kind of like how the Big Ten actually has eleven teams.

Conference RPI:

1. ACC
2. Pac 10
3. Big 12
4. Big East
5. SEC
6. Big 10
7. Atlantic 10
8. MVC
9. Mountain West
10. Horizon
11. C-USA

12. West Coast - After playing one of the best games of the season, St. Mary's is now even with Gonzaga at 6-1. San Diego, despite a terrible overall record of 13-11, are tied for the lead as well. Gaels and Bulldogs meet in Spokane on March 1. SD is one up on St. Mary's, and one down on Gonzaga.

13. MAC - Kent State is 7-2 in the East, with Akron and Ohio one game back. On the other side, Western Michigan is pretty much alone, also at 7-2. The Broncos can actually do their Eastern rivals a favor by knocking off Ohio tomorrow.

14. CAA - VCU has a magnificent 10-2 record, with two teams behind them at 9-3. One of them - George Mason - is expected. The other - William & Mary - is a pleasant surprise. The Rams are done with Mason for the year, but the Tribe get another shot in the last game of the regular season.

15. Sun Belt - South Alabama and Western Kentucky are tied at 11-1, with nobody else even close. They meet up Feb 21.

16. SoCon - Davidson is running away with this one at 14-0 and nobody in sniffing distance.

17. MAAC - Rider is 10-2, with Siena one back. They meet on Sunday on Rider's home court.

18. Patriot - Lafayette is 5-2, with American and Bucknell pulling up close at 5-3 apiece. Each gets one more shot at the #1 seed.

19. WAC - Utah State is 7-1, Boise State 8-2. March 6th is their only remaining game.

20. Big West - Pacific has drawn even with Northridge after beating them in an OT thriller last night. The two won't meet again in the regular season.

21. Southland - Lamar is 6-1 in the East division, Stephen F. Austin 6-2 in the West. The teams don't get a chance to settle this in the regular season, so I imagine they're looking forward to tournament time.

22. Summit - Oral Roberts is having a very, very good season. 11-0 in the Summit.

23. Ivy - Cornell is 4-0, which means a lot more when you don't have a conference tourney.

24. NEC - Sacred Heart is 11-2, Robert Morris and Wagner at 9-2.

25. Big Sky - Portland State 7-2, Weber State 6-3.

26. Big South - UNC-Asheville is 7-0, with no real challengers. In happy news, I'm going to see Big Kenny in person tomorrow! Look forward to photos.

27. America East - UMBC is 8-2, with Vermont on their heels at 7-3.

28. Atlantic Sun - Belmont and Jacksonville tied at 8-2.

29. Ohio Valley - Austin Peay 12-3, with Murray State falling off the pace.

30. MEAC - Todd Bozeman's Morgan State team is 8-1, with Hampton 7-1.

31. Indies - Texas Pan-American is the class of the non-league, at 14-13.

32. SWAC - 'Bama State and the Chief at 8-1.