SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 17 (79) 26 . . . Automatic Bids Gained 12 . . . Still Alive For 6 Automatic Bids 41 . . . Considered for 36 At-Large Bids
274 . . . Eliminated from NCAA Tournament Contention
Automatic Bids Awarded Saturday, March 16 –Abilene Christian, Buffalo, Duke, Iowa St., Montana, New Mexico St., Old Dominion, Oregon, Prairie View A&M, UC Irvine, UNC Central, Utah St., Vermont and Villanova.
Automatic Bids Awarded Previously –Bradley, Colgate, FDU, Gardner-Webb, Iona, Liberty, Murray St., North Dakota St., Northeastern, Northern Kentucky, Saint Mary’s, Wofford.
Considered For At-Large Bid, Saturday, March 16 –Florida, Florida St., Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Seton Hall, Washington, Wisconsin.
Considered For At-Large Bid, Previously –Alabama, Arizona St., Baylor, Belmont, Central Florida, Clemson, Creighton, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas St., Louisville, LSU, Marquette, Maryland, Mississippi, Mississippi St., Nevada, North Carolina, North Carolina St., Ohio St., Oklahoma, Purdue, St. John’s, Syracuse, Temple, Texas, Texas Christian, Texas Tech, Virginia, Virginia Tech, VCU.
Out Saturday, March 16 –> American Athletic Semifinal Losers:MemphisWichita St.> America East Final Loser:UMBC> Atlantic 10 Semifinal Losers:DavidsonRhode Island> Atlantic Coast Final Loser:Florida St. (At-Large Consideration)> Big 12 Final Loser:Kansas (At-Large Consideration)> Big East Final Loser:Seton Hall (At-Large Consideration)> Big Sky Final Loser:Eastern Washington> Big West Final Loser:CS Fullerton> Big Ten Semifinal Losers:Minnesota (At-Large Consideration)Wisconsin (At-Large Consideration)> Conference USA Final Loser:Western Kentucky> Ivy League Semifinal Losers:PennPrinceton> Mid-American Final Loser:Bowling Green> MEAC Final Loser:Norfolk St. (Top Seed)> Mountain West Final Loser:San Diego St.> Pac-12 Final Loser:Washington (Top Seed; At-Large Consideration)> SEC Semifinal Losers:Florida (At-Large Consideration)Kentucky (At-Large Consideration)> Southland Final Loser:New Orleans> Sun Belt Semifinal Losers:Georgia SouthernTexas St.> SWAC Final Loser:Texas Southern> WAC Final Loser:Grand Canyon
Sunday’s Action:> Tournament play continues (All Finals) in the American Athletic, Atlantic 10, Big Ten, Ivy Legaue, SEC and Sun Belt.
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SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 16 (97)12 . . . Automatic Bids Gained52 . . . Still Alive For 20 Automatic Bids33 . . . Considered for 36 At-Large Bids
256 . . . Eliminated from NCAA Tournament Contention
Automatic Bids Awarded Previously --Bradley, Colgate, FDU, Gardner-Webb, Iona, Liberty, Murray St., North Dakota St., Northeastern, Northern Kentucky, Saint Mary’s, Wofford
Considered For At-Large Bid, Friday, March 15 –Alabama, Arizona St., Central Florida, Iowa, Kansas St., LSU, Marquette, Mississippi St., Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio St., Purdue, Temple, Virginia, VCU.
Considered For At-Large Bid, Previously –Baylor, Belmont, Clemson, Creighton, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina St., Oklahoma, St. John’s, Syracuse, Texas, Texas Christian, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech,
Out Friday, March 15 –> American Athletic Quarterfinal Losers:Central Florida (At-Large Consideration)ConnecticutSMUTemple (At-Large Consideration)> Atlantic 10 Quarterfinal Losers:DaytonGeorge MasonSaint Joseph’sVCU (Top Seed; At-Large Consideration)> Atlantic Coast Semifinal Losers:North Carolina (At-Large Consideration)Virginia (Top Seed; At-Large Consideration)> Big 12 Semifinal Losers:Kansas St. (Top Seed; At-Large Consideration)West Virginia> Big East Semifinal Losers:Marquette (At-Large Consideration)Xavier> Big Sky Semifinal Losers:Southern UtahWeber St.> Big West Semifinal Losers:Long Beach St.UC Santa Barbara> Big Ten Quarterfinal Losers:Iowa (At-Large Consideration)NebraskaOhio St. (At-Large Consideration)Purdue (At-Large Consideration)> Conference USA Semifinal Losers:Southern MississippiUAB> Mid-American Semifinal Losers:Central MichiganNorthern Illinois> MEAC Semifinal Losers:HowardNorth Carolina A&T> Mountain West Semifinal Losers:Nevada (Top Seed; At-Large Consideration)Fresno St.> Pac-12 Semifinal Losers:ColoradoArizona St. (At-Large Consideration)> SEC Quarterfinal Losers:Alabama (At-Large Consideration)LSU (Top Seed; At-Large Consideration)Mississippi St. (At-Large Consideration)South Carolina> Southland Semifinal Losers:Sam Houston St.SE Louisiana> Sun Belt Quarterfinal Losers:La.-MonroeSouth Alabama> SWAC Belt Quarterfinal Losers:Alabama St.Grambling> WAC Semifinal Losers:Texas-Rio Grand ValleyUtah Valley
Saturday’s Action:> Tournament play begins in the Ivy League.
> Tournament play continues in the America East (Final), American Athletic, Atlantic 10, ACC (F), Big 12 (F), Big East (F), Big Sky (F), Big Ten, Big West (F), Conference USA (F), Mid-American (F), MEAC (F), Mountain West (F), Pac-12 (F), SEC, Southland (F), SWAC (F), Sun Belt and Western Athletic (F).
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FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 15 (126)12 . . . Automatic Bids Gained96 . . . Still Alive For 20 Automatic Bids18 . . . Considered for 36 At-Large Bids
227 . . . Eliminated from NCAA Tournament Contention
Automatic Bids Awarded Previously --Bradley, Colgate, FDU, Gardner-Webb, Iona, Liberty, Murray St., North Dakota St., Northeastern, Northern Kentucky, Saint Mary’s, Wofford
Considered For At-Large Bid, Thursday, March 14 –Baylor, Creighton, Georgetown, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina St., St. John’s, Syracuse, Texas, Texas Christian, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech,
Considered For At-Large Bid, Previously --Belmont, Clemson, Oklahoma, Gonzaga
Out Thursday, March 14 –> American Athletic First Round Losers:East CarolinaSouth FloridaTulsaTulane> Atlantic 10 Second Round Losers:DuquesneGeorge WashingtonLa SalleRichmond> Atlantic Coast Quarterfinal Losers:Louisville (At-Large Consideration)North Carolina St. (At-Large Consideration)Syracuse (At-Large Consideration)Virginia Tech (At-Large Consideration)> Big 12 Quarterfinal Losers:Baylor (At-Large Consideration)Texas (At-Large Consideration)Texas Christian (At-Large Consideration)Texas Tech (At-Large Consideration)> Big East Quarterfinal Losers:Creighton (At-Large Consideration)Georgetown (At-Large Consideration)ProvidenceSt. John’s (At-Large Consideration)> Big Sky Quarterfinal Losers:Montana St.Northern ColoradoPortland St.Sacramento St.> Big West Quarterfinal Losers:CSU NorthridgeHawaiiUC DavisUC Riverside> Big Ten Second Round Losers:IllinoisIndiana (At-Large Consideration)Maryland (At-Large Consideration)Penn St.> Conference USA Losers:Louisiana TechMarshallNorth TexasTexas-San Antonio> Mid-American Quarterfinal Losers:AkronBall St.Kent St.Toledo> MEAC Quarterfinal Losers:Bethune-CookmanDelaware St.> Mountain West Quarterfinal Losers:Air ForceBoise St.New MexicoUNLV> Pac-12 Quarterfinal Losers:Oregon St.Southern CalUCLAUtah> SEC Second Round Losers:ArkansasMississippi (At-Large Consideration)MissouriTexas A&M> Southland Quarterfinal Losers:Central ArkansasLamar> Sun Belt Second Round Losers:Coastal CarolinaLouisiana> WAC Quarterfinal Losers:Chicago St.CS BakersfieldSeattleKansas City
Friday’s Action:> Tournament play continues in the American Athletic, Atlantic 10, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Sky, Big Ten, Big West, Conference USA, Mid-American, MEAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, SEC, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt and Western Athletic
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THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 14 (174)12 . . . Automatic Bids Gained158 . . . Still Alive For 20 Automatic Bids4 . . . . Considered for 36 At-Large Bids
179 . . . Eliminated from NCAA Tournament Contention
Automatic Bids Awarded Wednesday, March 13 --ColgateAutomatic Bids Awarded Previously --Bradley, FDU, Gardner-Webb, Iona, Liberty, Murray St., North Dakota St., Northeastern, Northern Kentucky, Saint Mary’s, Wofford
Considered For At-Large Bid, Wednesday, March 13 –Clemson, OklahomaConsidered For At-Large Bid, Previously --Belmont, Gonzaga
Out Wednesday, March 13 –> Atlantic 10 First Round Losers:FordhamMassachusetts> ACC First Round Losers:Clemson (Moved to At-Large Consideration)Miami (Fla.)Notre DamePittsburgh> Big 12 First Round Losers:Oklahoma (Moved to At-Large Consideration)Oklahoma St.> Big East First Round Losers:ButlerDePaul> Big Sky First Round Losers:IdahoIdaho St.Northern Arizona> Big Ten First Round Losers:RutgersNorthwestern> Conference USA First Round Losers:Florida AtlanticFlorida InternationalMiddle TennesseeRice> MEAC Quarterfinals Losers:Coppin St.South Carolina St.> Mountain West First Round Losers:Colorado St.San Jose St.Wyoming> Pac-12 First Round Losers:ArizonaCaliforniaStanfordWashington St.> Patriot Final Loser:Bucknell> SEC First Round Losers:GeorgiaVanderbilt> Southland First Round Losers:Houston BaptistTexas A&M-CC
Thursday’s Action:> Tournament play begins in the American Athletic, Big West and Western Athletic.> Tournament play continues in the Atlantic 10, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Sky, Big Ten, Conference USA, Mid-American, MEAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, SEC, Southland and Sun Belt.
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WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 13 (203)11 . . . Automatic Bids Gained190 . . . Still Alive For 21 Automatic Bids2 . . . . Considered for 36 At-Large Bids
150 . . . Eliminated from NCAA Tournament Contention
Automatic Bids Awarded Tuesday, March 12 --Northeastern, Northern Kentucky, FDU, North Dakota St., Saint Mary’sAutomatic Bids Awarded Previously --Bradley, Gardner-Webb, Iona, Liberty, Murray St., Wofford
Considered For At-Large Bid, Tuesday, March 12 –GonzagaConsidered For At-Large Bid, Previously --Belmont
Out Tuesday, March 12 –> American East Semifinal Losers:BinghamtonHartford> ACC First Round Losers:Boston CollegeGeorgia TechWake Forest> CAA Final Loser:Hofstra (regular season champion; NIT bid)> Horizon Final Loser:Wright St. (regular season champion; NIT bid)> MEAC First Round Losers:Md.-Eastern ShoreMorgan St.> Northeast Final Loser:St. Francis (Pa.) (regular season champion; NIT bid)> SWAC Quarterfinal Losers:Alcorn St.Ark.-Pine BluffJackson St.Southern> Summit Final Loser:Neb.-Omaha> Sun Belt First Round Losers:Appalachian St.Arkansas St.> WCC Final Loser:Gonzaga (Moved to At-Large Consideration)
Wednesday’s Action:> Tournament play begins in the Atlantic 10, Big 12, Big East, Big Sky, Big Ten, Conference USA, Mountain West, Pac-12, SEC and Southland.> Tournament play continues in the ACC, MEAC and Patriot.
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TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 12 (220)6 . . . . Automatic Bids Gained213 . . . Still Alive For 26 Automatic Bids1 . . . . Considered for 36 At-Large Bids
133 . . . Eliminated from NCAA Tournament Contention
Automatic Bids Awarded Monday, March 11 --Iona, WoffordAutomatic Bids Awarded Previously --Bradley, Gardner-Webb, Liberty, Murray St.
Considered For At-Large Bid, Previously --Belmont
Out Monday, March 11 –> CAA Semifinal Losers:CharlestonDelaware> Horizon Semifinal Losers:Green BayOakland> MAAC Final Loser:Monmouth> Mid-American First Round Losers:Eastern MichiganMiami (Ohio)OhioWestern Michigan> MEAC First Round Loser:Savannah St.> Southern Final Loser:UNC Greensboro> Summit Semifinal Losers:Purdue Fort WayneWestern Illinois> WCC Semifinal Losers:PepperdineSan Diego
Tuesday’s Action:> Tournament play begins in the ACC, SWAC and Sun Belt.> Tournament play continues in the America East, CAA (Final), Horizon (Final), MEAC, Northeast (Final), Summit (Final) and WCC (Final)
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MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 11 (235)4 . . . . Automatic Bids Gained230 . . . Still Alive For 28 Automatic Bids1 . . . . Considered for 36 At-Large Bids
118 . . . Eliminated from NCAA Tournament Contention
Automatic Bids Awarded Sunday, March 10 --Bradley, Gardner-Webb, LibertyAutomatic Bids Awarded Previously --Murray St.
Considered For At-Large Bid, Previously --Belmont
Out Sunday, March 10 –> Atlantic Sun Final Loser:Lipscomb (regular season champion; NIT bid)> Big South Final Loser:Radford> CAA Quarterfinals Losers:DrexelJames MadisonUNCWWilliam & Mary> MAAC Semifinal Losers:CanisiusSiena> Missouri Valley Final Loser:Northern Iowa> Patriot League Semifinal Losers:LehighNavy> Southern Conference Semifinal Losers:East Tennessee St.Furman> Summit League Quarterfinals Losers:Oral RobertsSouth DakotaMonday’s Action:> Tournament play begins in the Mid-American and MEAC.> Tournament play continues in the CAA, Horizon, MAAC (Final), Southern (Final), Summit and West Coast.
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SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 10 (250)1 . . . . Automatic Bids Gained248 . . . Still Alive For 31 Automatic Bids1 . . . . Considered for 36 At-Large Bids
103 . . . Eliminated from NCAA Tournament ContentionAutomatic Bids Awarded Saturday, March 9 --> Murray St. (Ohio Valley Conference)
Moved To At-Large Consideration Saturday, March 9 --> Belmont
Out Saturday, March 9 –> America East Quarterfinal Losers:AlbanyMass.-LowellMaineStony Brook> CAA First Round Losers:ElonTowson> MAAC Quarterfinal Losers:QuinnipiacRider> Missouri Valley Semifinal Losers:DrakeLoyola Chicago (regular season champion; NIT bid)> Northeast Conference Semifinal Losers:LIU BrooklynRobert Morris> Ohio Valley Conference Final Loser:Belmont (Moved to At-Large Consideration; NIT bid assured)> Southern Conference Quarterfinal Losers:ChattanoogaMercerSamfordVMI> Summit League Quarterfinal Losers:South Dakota St. (regular season champion; NIT bid)> WCC Quarterfinal Losers:Brigham YoungSan Francisco
> Penn beat Brown to capture the fourth and final Ivy League tournament slot.
> Entering Saturday -- the final day of the regular season -- there were 12 Southland Conference teams still alive for the eight spots in its Tournament. Eliminated Saturday were McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern St. and Stephen F. Austin.
> Cal Poly lost and failed to qualify for the Big West Conference tournament.
Sunday’s Action:> Tournament play continues in the Atlantic Sun (Final), Big South (Final), CAA, MAAC, Missouri Valley (Final), Patriot, Southern and Summit.
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SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 9 (276)276 . . . Still Alive77 . . . Eliminated0 . . . . At-Large Considerations
Out Friday, March 8 –> Big South Sun Semifinal Losers:Campbell (regular season champion; NIT bid)Charleston Southern> MAAC Quarterfinal Losers:ManhattanSt. Peter’s> Missouri Valley Quarterfinal Losers:Illinois St.Missouri St.Southern IllinoisValparaiso> Ohio Valley Semifinal Losers:Austin PeayJacksonville St.> Southern Conference First Round Losers:The CitadelWestern Carolina> WCC Second Round Losers:Loyola MarymountSanta Clara
> Cornell was eliminated from Ivy League Tournament contention when Brown and Penn won. Penn and Brown meet Saturday with the winner getting the fourth and final tournament slot.
Saturday’s Action:> Tournament play starts in the America East, CAA and Summit League.> Tournament play continues in the MAAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley (Final), Southern and West Coast Conference.> In addition to the Ivy League (above), the Big West and Southland will finish up regular season play and finalize which schools will not make their conference tournaments. Those will be the last leagues to have teams eliminated in the regular season.
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FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 8 (291)291 . . . Still Alive62 . . . Eliminated0 . . . . At-Large Considerations
Out Thursday, March 7 –> Atlantic Sun Semifinal Losers:New Jersey TechNorth Florida> Big South Quarterfinal Losers:Charleston SouthernHamptonHigh PointPresbyterian> MAAC First-Round Losers:FairfieldMaristNiagara> Missouri Valley First-Round Losers:Indiana St.Evansville> Ohio Valley First-Round Losers:Morehead St.Tenn.-Martin> Patriot League Quarterfinal Losers:AmericanArmyBoston UniversityHoly Cross> WCC First-Round Losers:PacificPortland
> Arkansas-Little Rock and Troy lost and were eliminated from contention for a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.Friday’s Action:> Tournament play starts in the Southern Conference.> Tournament play continues in the Big South, MAAC, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, WCC.> Regular season play continues in the Ivy League, where three schools are vying for the fourth and final spot in the tournament.
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THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 7 (312)312 . . . Still Alive41 . . . Eliminated0 . . . . At-Large Considerations
Out Wednesday, March 6 --> Horizon League Quarterfinal Losers:Detroit MercyYoungstown St.> Northeast Conference Quarterfinal Losers:BryantSacred HeartSt. Francis BrooklynWagner> Ohio Valley Conference First Round Losers:Eastern IllinoisSIU-Edwardsville
> McNeese State lost and was eliminated from earning a Southland Conference Tournament bid. Three other Southland teams will be eliminated Saturday as the conference concludes regular season play.
Thursday’s Action:> Tournament play starts in the MAAC, Missouri Valley Conference and West Coast Conference . . . It continues in the Atlantic Sun, Big South, Ohio Valley and Patriot.
> Regular season play continues in the Sun Belt Conference, where all 12 teams are still alive for the 10 Tournament berths. Some of them could be eliminated Thursday before the regular season concludes Saturday.
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WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 6 (321)321 . . . Still Alive32 . . . Eliminated0 . . . . At-Large Considerations
Out Tuesday, March 5 --> Big South First Round Losers:UNC AshevilleUSC UpstateLongwood> Horizon Quarterfinal Losers:IUPUIIllinois-Chicago> Patriot League First Round Losers:Loyola MarylandLafayette
Wednesday’s Action:> The Southland Conference has 12 teams still alive for its eight-team tournament. Some of those could be eliminated Wednesday. Regular season ends Saturday.> Horizon League Quarterfinals (2)> Northeast Conference Quarterfinals (4)> Ohio Valley Conference First Round (2)
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TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 5 (328)328 . . . Still Alive25 . . . Eliminated0 . . . . At-Large Considerations
Out Monday, March 4:> Mississippi Valley St. -- Loss to Grambling St. takes them out of running for a SWAC tournament bid.
> Atlantic Sun Quarterfinal Losers:Kennesaw St.Florida Gulf CoastNorth AlabamaJacksonvilleTuesday’s Action:> Tournament play starts in three conferences, so there will be seven teams eliminated in the Big South (3), Horizon (2) and Patriot (2).
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MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 4 (333)333 . . . Still Alive20 . . . Eliminated0 . . . . At-Large Considerations
There are 353 Division I Men’s Basketball Programs, of which 333 are still eligible to receive an Automatic Bid to the NCAA Tournament . . .
>>> Four of those 353 are ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. They are:Alabama A&M (SWAC, penalty)Florida A&M (MEAC, penalty)Cal-Baptist (WAC, re-classification)*North Alabama (Atlantic Sun, re-classification)(*UNA will participate in the Atlantic Sun tournament but will not get the bid if they win it. Regular season champion Lipscomb would get the bid in that case.)
That leaves 349 that began the season eligible for the 68 NCAA Tournament slots via the 32 Automatic Bids (one for each conference tournament champion) or one of the 36 At-Large Bids as selected by the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. Sixteen of those 349 have already failed to qualify for their conference’s tournament and none of those 16 will be considered for an At-Large Bid.
>>> Already Out (16)(DNQ for Conference Tournament)New Hampshire (America East)Stetson (Atlantic Sun)Charlotte (Conference USA)UTEP (Conference USA)Cleveland St. (Horizon)Milwaukee (Horizon)Columbia (Ivy League)Dartmouth (Ivy League)Mount St. Mary’s (Northeast)Central Connecticut (Northeast)Eastern Kentucky (OVC)Tennessee St. (OVC)Southeast Missouri (OVC)Tennessee Tech (OVC)Incarnate Word (Southland)Denver (Summit League)
More DNQs To ComeFive conferences have regular season games remaining this week that will result in some schools not qualifying for the conference tournament:Big WestIvy LeagueSouthlandSun BeltSWAC
Conference Tournaments . . .Begin Monday evening with the Atlantic Sun quarterfinals and go through each of the next 14 days, with the last two conference title games (American Athletic and Big Ten) ending shortly before the Selection Show on CBS (Sunday, March 17, 6 p.m.).
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INTRODUCTION
Every year, one of our odd personal habits as a run-up to the NCAA Tournament is tracking the elimination of teams one-by-one until Selection Sunday. We keep a running count of who is still alive in conference tournaments . . . who has lost in conference tournaments and is now on NCAA At-Large Consideration (ALC) . . . and who is out, period.
(Note: We do not consider any team for ALC until they have been eliminated from gaining an Automatic Bid . . . Once eliminated, we rely on the main Bracketology experts at ESPN, CBS Sports, etc., to determine which schools to will be considered.)
Usually, we do it on social media (@BoopStats) as often as we can – game by game when time permits. But this year, we will also do it each and every morning right here at BettorsInsider.com for the next two weeks. Follow along in both places, won’t you?