In what has been a challenging season for the Big Ten and ACC, several teams find themselves fighting to secure their spot in the NCAA tournament. The Big Ten currently has five teams in the bracket, with Michigan State hovering on the bubble. Meanwhile, Nebraska and Northwestern are still searching for a significant road victory to boost their postseason chances. The standout team in the conference, Michigan, has surprisingly underperformed this year.

The ACC has been dominated by perennial powerhouses North Carolina, Duke, and Clemson, leaving a cluster of teams in their wake. Virginia, however, has started to rise in the rankings with an impressive seven-game winning streak, including a notable victory at Clemson. Aside from these four teams, only Pitt and Virginia Tech have managed to string together a three-game winning streak since conference play began. Pitt's streak is ongoing as they prepare for a tough matchup against Virginia on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in the Pac-12, the basketball season has failed to live up to the excitement of the football season. With Arizona as the lone team seeded above No. 7, the conference is lacking prominent contenders. Oregon remains on the bubble, holding a realistic chance of securing an at-large bid.

The field of teams currently projected into the NCAA tournament includes Dayton, Indiana State, and Saint Mary's, who all stand out as the sole representatives of their respective conferences. This situation raises the possibility of underdog teams stealing bids from more established programs.

In the latest development, South Florida, the frontrunner in the AAC, has emerged as a potential bid stealer. With their triumph over FAU, who lost in overtime against UAB on Thursday, the Bulls now enjoy a solitary hold on the top spot in the conference.

As the regular season winds down, the Big Ten, ACC, and Pac-12 continue to jostle for positions in the NCAA tournament, with key games and potential bid stealers creating added drama.