Jerry Palm's assessment of UC's NCAA hopes

Here's what Jerry Palm of CollegeRPI.com says about UC's chances for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament:

"They're not far enough along," Palm said. "If the bracket were today, they'd be done. That doesn't mean they can't play their way into it. The committee will consider their injury situation. They always do. If Cincinnati puts up three or four more wins, it could definitely happen, but they're not even on my radar yet. When I'm doing brackets, they're not a team I'm looking at."

Of course, that's what Mick Cronin is saying, that if UC finishes strong, it should be considered. But the Bearcats probably have to win four of their last five to even have a chance. Either that or they'll have to go to the final of the Big East tournament. And even that might not be enough.

The good news is that with road games at Georgetown, Pitt and UConn, the opportunity is there to make a statement on the road against quality teams.

"If they're as good as they think they are, they definitely have a chance," Palm said.

But not a good one. Palm points out that since 1994 when he started tracking these things only three teams have received at-large berths at four games over .500 and only one - 16-14 Georgia in 2001 - has ever been invited with a record less than four games over.