NIT or NCAA: Duke

Throughout the season we'll look at bubble teams and assess whether they have a better chance of ending up in the NIT or the NCAA Tournament.

Team: Duke

Record: 18-7

Good wins: Air Force, Indiana, Georgetown, Clemson

Bad losses: Virginia, Florida State

Comments: It's amazing that we've actually gotten to the point where there's a chance that Duke might miss the tournament, but it's reasonable to at least consider it. Their current four-game losing streak has the Blue Devils at 5-6 in the ACC.

Other views: Sportz Assassin says yesterday's loss to Maryland could place them smack dab on the bubble. Bracketology lists Duke as a 4 seed. Prior to the Maryland game they ranked 14th in RPI and eighth in Ken Pomeroy's ratings, and counting the Maryland game they rank 14th in the Sagarin ratings.

Verdict: The Blue Devils had a good enough non-conference schedule that if they go 7-9 in the ACC, they're in the tournament. But if they finish 6-10, they'd probably have to win a game or two in the ACC tournament to be safe. As much as fans everywhere think Duke gets preferential treatment from the college basketball establishment, I think the selection committee might relish the opportunity to show they don't play favorites. But it won't come to that. Duke is a good team that will play well down the stretch. I think they'll win four of their next five before the rematch with North Carolina and make the tournament comfortably.