In a thrilling display of basketball prowess, bubble teams fought tooth and nail on Friday to secure key wins in their respective conference tournaments. The stakes were high as these teams vied for an opportunity to solidify their spot in the coveted NCAA Tournament. Let's take a closer look at the intense matchups and surprising outcomes.

In the SEC Tournament, Texas A&M emerged victoriously, defeating Kentucky with an impressive 97-87 scoreline. This triumph propelled the Aggies into the tournament bracket, although they still have more work to do. Their next challenge awaits as they prepare to face off against Florida in the semifinals on Saturday.

Additionally, Mississippi State's commanding victory over Tennessee in the SEC Tournament helped the Bulldogs break free from the "Last 4 In" bubble section and secure a spot in the bracket. The Volunteers' loss dropped them from the top line of the bracket, making way for North Carolina to take their place. The Tar Heels earned their spot after defeating Pitt in the ACC Tournament semifinals and will now face potential bid-stealer NC State for the championship title on Saturday.

The Atlantic-10 Conference also presents an intriguing bid-stealing situation. Despite being considered a candidate for the selection committee's top 16, Dayton's recent performances have caused them to slip down the bracket. The conference could potentially produce a bid-stealer, adding an ironic twist to Dayton's aspirations.

In the American Conference, a similar scenario unfolds. Florida Atlantic secures an at-large position, but the title hopes reside with top-seeded South Florida. The Bulls must win the automatic bid to secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Turning our attention to the Pac-12 Tournament, the bubble picture becomes more complicated. Colorado, still on the bubble, is no longer among the "Last 4 In." Instead, the Buffaloes find themselves in the role of the automatic qualifier. They achieved this status by defeating Washington State, while simultaneously witnessing Arizona's loss to Oregon. Now, Colorado faces off against Oregon in a bid-stealing showdown for the automatic bid.

In other developments, Northwestern's loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten quarterfinals relegated the Wildcats to the "Last 4 In" section of the bracket. Joining them is St. John's, who suffered defeat at the hands of UConn in the Big East Tournament semifinals. These teams must now fight to maintain their presence in the NCAA Tournament.

As the conference tournaments bring more surprises, the selection committee faces an arduous task of crafting a well-balanced bracket. Striving to ensure fairness, the Big 12 and SEC are required to have their four teams each in separate regions. Accomplishing this feat proved to be more challenging than expected.

The bubble teams showcased their determination on Friday, and Saturday promises even more drama and intense matchups. Stay tuned to witness which teams will emerge as bid-stealers and secure their place in the highly-anticipated NCAA Tournament.