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Teams that will determine the NCAA Tournament bubble

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, NOV. 5-6 - FILE - In this April 4, 2016, file photo, Villanova players celebrates after Kris Jenkins, center, made the game-winning basket as they defeated North Carolina 77-74 in the championship game of the the NCAA Final Four college tournament in Houston. The Wildcats reign as champions for the first time in three decades. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
WASHINGTON — It’s finally March, which means it’s time to start talking about the greatest event in sports. Our crazy sports year kicked off in earnest with last year’s championship-winning buzzer beater in the title game of March Madness, so it would only be fitting for some epic storylines to develop in the tournament’s opening weekend this year to finish the cycle. But what teams will sneak in to even have the chance to be the next Cinderella? Northwestern looks like it will finally go dancing, but the bubble is crowded with names both new and familiar. Much will be determined by the final games of the regular season, along with conference tournaments this week and next. Here are teams to keep an eye on whose fates could shape the way the field rounds out. Note: All rankings as of Thursday, March 2. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
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ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, NOV. 5-6 - FILE - In this April 4, 2016, file photo, Villanova players celebrates after Kris Jenkins, center, made the game-winning basket as they defeated North Carolina 77-74 in the championship game of the the NCAA Final Four college tournament in Houston. The Wildcats reign as champions for the first time in three decades. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Illinois State forward Deontae Hawkins (23) dunks as San Francisco guard Frankie Ferrari (2) watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, in Honolulu. San Francisco won p66-58. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Middle Tennessee Darnell Harris (0), Perrin Buford (2) and Jaqawn Raymond, left, celebrate as they walk off the court after winning a first-round men's college basketball game against Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in St. Louis. Middle Tennessee won 90-81. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
UNC Wilmington guard C.J. Bryce, left, and Hofstra guard Ameen Tanksley (2) chase after the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Colonial Athletic Association championship, Monday, March 7, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Xavier's Trevon Bluiett (5) looks to pass against Marquette's Katin Reinhardt (22) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Cincinnati. Marquette won 95-84. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Rhode Island's Jared Terrell (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Providence Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in Providence, R.I. Providence defeated Rhode Island, 63-60.(AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Syracuse's Tyus Battle, right, looks to pass the ball as Duke's Luke Kennard defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi)

A good number of bubble teams can play their way into or out of the NCAA Tournament over the next week-and-a-half.

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