Joe Lunardi reveals NCAA Tournament scenarios for West Virginia ahead of Iowa State game

With two games left before the playoffs begin in college basketball, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi broke down West Virginia‘s current standing. The Mountaineers are taking on Iowa State on the road Monday evening, and according to Lunardi the final games of the season may be mandatory for West Virginia to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Joe Lunardi breaks down West Virginia’s March Madness hopes

With only a handful of games left to play around the college hoops world, Lunardi’s yearly “Bracketology” predictions are starting to take full shape. However, the longtime college basketball analyst believes that the future isn’t set in stone for teams on the bubble just yet.

West Virginia is one of those teams currently, as Lunardi listed them as one of his “Last Four In” teams — meaning they are currently in the tournament as things stand. Despite the Mountaineers being in the driver’s seat down the stretch, Lunardi gave a glimpse at his next “Bracketology” rankings if they fall on the road to the Cyclones tonight.

“West Virginia is also in some bubble trouble, losing four of five to drop to LAST FOUR IN; another loss is survivable,” read Lunardi’s breakdown.

In a bit of good news for West Virginia fans, Lunardi seems to believe that they’ve done enough so far this season to still make the big dance even with a loss to Iowa State. He didn’t clarify if that prediction included their final game of the season where they host Kansas State at home next week — but it stands to reason that a win over Iowa State would be the best way to earn a buffer over the teams below them on the bubble.

Rounding out Lunardi’s current list, West Virginia is joined in the “Last Four In” category by Boise State, Wisconsin and Oklahoma State. Below them on the bubble as the “First Four Out” is Arizona State, North Carolina, Clemson and Michigan — with one week to go.