The "nobody is safe" mantra is one that college basketball fans have been able to utilize on a night-to-night basis since the beginning of the 2015-16 season. As we inch closer and closer to Selection Sunday, it's becoming apparent that the maxim also applies to the bigger picture as well.

Eleven programs entered this season with streaks of five or more consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Here they are:

1. Kansas (26)

2. Duke (20)

3. Michigan State (18)

4. Gonzaga (17)

4. Wisconsin (17)

6. Louisville (9)

7. Ohio State (7)

8. San Diego State (6)

9. VCU (5)

9. Cincinnati (5)

9. North Carolina (5)

The three names on the top (yes, even Duke) and the one on the very bottom appear to be safe, but every single other name on that list is in danger of not being there one month from now.

Here's a look at the perennial March characters who have some work to do in order to renew their roles for another year:

Gonzaga (20-6, 12-2)

Last Missed Tournament: 1998

Streak: 17

It's easy to make the case that Gonzaga was college basketball's biggest loser this past weekend. In desperate need of a resume-boosting victory, the Bulldogs took a 69-60 loss to No. 16 SMU.

Mark Few's team currently sits atop the West Coast Conference standings at 12-2 and owns a typical Gonzaga overall record of 20-6, but its best wins are still over the relatively pedestrian trio of Washington, Connecticut and Tennessee. Unless the Zags win the WCC tournament (where they will likely be the prohibitive favorite), there's no guarantee that they'll hear their name called on Selection Sunday for an 18th straight time.

Wisconsin (16-9, 8-4)

Last Missed Tournament: 1998

Streak: 17

The Badgers have clawed their way back into the NCAA Tournament picture with seven consecutive victories, the most notable of which was their 70-57 road upset of No. 2 Maryland on Saturday. Still, after a dismal first half of the season, there's work to be done if Greg Gard wants to get Wisconsin into the dance and make his case for being the program's permanent head coach.





Half of Wisconsin's final six games of the regular season will come on the road against teams currently ranked in the top 20 -- Iowa, Michigan State and Purdue. If Nigel Hayes and company can win one of those and take care of business in their other three games -- at Minnesota, vs. Michigan and vs. Illinois -- then the Badgers should be on the right side of the bubble. The defending national runners-up will also be a trendy pick to make a deep run in the dance.