The only one of these teams that I would give better than a 50/50 chance to make the NCAA Tournament is Rutgers.
- NC State has beaten nobody of quality (best win is against a super disappointing Dayton. I wouldn't be surprised if Furman is looked at as the best non-conference win to date by the end of the year). They are just a mid-pack ACC team, and I don't think anyone other than the top five (Duke, Miami, UNC, Virginia, Virginia Tech) should be considered likely tourney teams out of the ACC. Could they emerge as the 6th best ACC team? Sure, but I could make the argument that Clemson is the 6th best ACC team, or Wake is the 6th best ACC team. I'd be surprised if the ACC got more than 6 bids in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the day, and I don't think they are the clear 6th best team in the league. Possible tourney team? Yes. Likely tourney team? No.
- UCF: They are the 3rd best team in the AAC, but the AAC has been a disappointment beyond Houston, Memphis, and UCF. It's no guarantee this league gets more than two bids. They need to get 1-2 wins against those top two to have any chance and only have 2-3 losses at the most against the rest of the league. Like NC State, they are a possible tourney team but not one I think would be favored to make it.
- Providence: They accomplished nothing in the non-conference. Their best win in the non-conference is against a 4-8 Rhode Island team? They will have chances to build a resume in the Big East, and the Seton Hall/Marquette wins are a start. Ed Cooley has done that before. But I can't consider them a likely team to make the tournament based on what they have done so far.
- Cornell: In a one bid Ivy League, Yale is the clear favorite to win the league.