Bubble watch: Syracuse, Texas keep NCAA tournament hopes alive
*All seeding is according to brackets by ESPN's Joe Lunardi ahead of Saturday's slate of games
Related - Bubble watch: 6 games the committee will be following closely on Saturday
Clemson at Syracuse
Syracuse: First four out
Clemson: No. 5 seed
Final score: SYR 55, CLEM 52
The Orange had been seeing blue as of late, entering Saturday's matchup on a three-game losing skid. The narrow victory over Clemson - who had nothing to fret over when it comes to a spot in the tournament - gives Syracuse a pulse. A loss could have been the final nail in their coffin.
Notre Dame at Virginia
Notre Dame: Next four out
Virginia: No. 1 seed
Final score: UVA 62, ND 57
No major upset to be found here, thanks in large part to guard Devon Hall and his 17 points, five rebounds, and six assists in 37 minutes of action. Bonzie Colson's 24 points and 14 rebounds (18 and nine of which came in the first half) in his second game back from a broken foot for the Fighting Irish kept the score close, at the very least.
West Virginia at Texas
Texas: Last four in
West Virginia: No. 4 seed
Final score: TEX 87, WVU 79 (OT)
The contest required extra time, but the injury-riddled Longhorns prevailed when they desperately needed to. Texas hasn't been on the outside looking in as it pertains to the tournament in consecutive years since 1988. This win doesn't guarantee them a spot, unfortunately, but it does help their cause.
St. John's at Providence
Providence: Last four in
Final score: PROV 61, SJU 57
The Red Storm's magical four-game run from Feb. 3 through 14 that included wins over Duke and Villanova feels like a distant memory for a team needing a miraculous Big East tournament title to sneak into March Madness. Providence, meanwhile, capitalized on St. John's turnovers (10 of which came from guard Justin Simon) Saturday to help strengthen its bid.
Louisville at NC State
Louisville: Last four in
NC State: No. 9 seed
Final score: NCST 76, LOU 69
Another opportunity squandered for the Cardinals, who are now in a do-or-die situation in the ACC tournament if they have March Madness aspirations. NC State bounced back from a three-point loss to Georgia Tech Thursday for its fifth win in its last six outings, with a possible higher seed potentially coming their way.
UCLA at USC
UCLA: First four out
USC: Last four in
Final score: UCLA 83, USC 72
Down go the Trojans, with the Bruins snapping a four-game winning streak in this high-scoring battle of Los Angeles. Aaron Holiday was a one-man wrecking crew, lighting up USC for 34 points on 16 shots, including six makes from long distance.
(Images courtesy: Action Images)