WKU will be in the NCAA as an at-large even if they do not win it all in Mobile. You heard it here first. Bubble team? No more so than any other team out there and much less so in that the Toppers are favored in ALL their remaining games. There are just four games left in the Belt. WKU will be favored in all of them. Even the Thursday night whiteout game against USA. With a RPI of 48 (as of Feb. 19th), a win against USA who has a RPI of 36 (as of Feb. 19th) will give the Toppers a top 100 win they do need to get an at-large.

 Tough (RPI wise) matches against L. Monroe and the sunshine state Belt teams will likely HURT the Topper's RPI, as they are all 200+ RPI. However, many of the teams ahead of WKU have some sure fire loses coming up. All WKU has to do is take care of business in the Belt. Win the last four. Move their RPI up to 40ish. Win two more in Mobile. Then get ready for selection Sunday even if they lose the championship game.

Here are just some of the reason I think the Toppers will not be overlooked this year. If the Tops take care of the games, as they should, it would give the Toppers a 17 game win streak going into the championship game. The NCAA selection committee looks for "hot teams". Cannot get much hotter than 17 wins in a row.

 They look for teams that have play tough teams close. Loses to the suddenly invincible Vols by just four will help WKU not hurt. Four of the Toppers 5 loses are to top 55 RPI teams. All were close. No 25-point blowouts.

They want "marquee" players to showcase. Courtney Lee is a marquee player they would like to have in the dance. A Playboy All-American that is on everyone's draft board. That helps.

The coach, Coach Darrin Horn is a "young gun" coach that they would like to see in the NCAA also. He has won 20 plus games the last four years and is always the bridesmaid. They will make him the Bride this year if they have the chance.

WKU has been "close" before. They may say this isn't so but the fact that WKU has been "right there" the last couple years and sat out will make them take WKU this year IF there is any way they can do it. In addition, that way is just for WKU to win the remaining games they are favored to win. Get to the Championship game. A close loss in the championship game will still keep them in the dance.

Nevertheless, of course the best case would be a Sunbelt Championship and riding an 18 game winning streak. That will give the Hilltoppers a MUCHO better seed (maybe a ten seed?) and a real chance to make some noise this March. That is what every Topper fan is hoping for the Hilltoppers.

The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry, but for now, the plan is take care of the games we are favored to win and let the chips fall where they may. Moreover, if the Toppers do just that, they will be, in my opinion, dancing this March. If they stub their toe in these final four games however, all bets are off and a sweep in Mobile is the only chance they will have.