Teams Already in the 2012 NCAA Tournament: Fan’s TakeBy Joe Dorish, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Mar 6, 8:49 am EST
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ycn-11059094These are the teams that have already earned berths into the 2012 NCAA Tournament though Monday, March 5, 2012. I'm also listing the consequences of each of these teams winning their conference tournaments. In most cases, the top seeded team won, but in others the top seed lost. Will the top seeds that lost still get at-large bids which will deny other teams bids?
I've been a college basketball fan, and a fan of the Syracuse Orange, since the 1970s, when I was a kid. College basketball is great all season, but when March rolls around the season is the best. It's always fun to watch and see who wins their conference tournaments to get automatic bids. Syracuse is the top rated team in the Big East Tournament, which kicks off today, Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Madison Square Garden.
Teams Already in the 2012 NCAA TournamentLoyola (MD) Greyhounds - 24-8 (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
The Loyola (MD) Greyhounds defeated the Fairfield Stags, 48-44, in the final of the MAAC Tournament in Springfield, Massachusetts to earn an automatic berth to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Loyola has a pretty high RPI, and the Greyhounds only have quality wins this season over Iona and Bucknell. I doubt they win a game in the Bid Dance.
Fairfield knocked out the top seeded Iona Gaels in the semifinals, likely costing Iona a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Iona only has a top 50 win over Nevada in 2012, and I just don't think they have enough quality wins to get a bid. Plus Iona lost to 10-22 Hofstra, and 14-17 Siena this year.
Davidson Wildcats - 25-7 (Southern Conference)
The top seeded Davidson Wildcats had to go to two OT's to defeat the Western Carolina Catamounts, 93-91, in the final of the Southern Conference Tournament. The win earned Davidson a trip to the Big Dance. Unlike Iona, Davidson had a signature win this year, as they beat the #3 ranked Kansas Jayhawks, 80-74, in Kansas.
Davidson might have gotten an at-large bid had they lost in the tournament final, but it's irrelevant now. You have to say the Davidson Wildcats are a threat to win a NCAA Tournament game, as they already beat Kansas, one of the best teams in the country.
VCU Rams- 28-6 (Colonial Athletic Association)
The VCU Rams, who made it to the Final Four in 2011, are headed back to the Bid Dance. VCU defeated the Drexel Dragons, 59-56, in the final of the Colonial Conference Tournament. VCU beat South Florida, Akron and George Mason this season, for three decent wins. Not sure they would have gotten an at-large bid though had they lost to Drexel.
The Drexel Dragons are 27-6, but have only beaten VCU and George Mason this season for decent wins. I don't think Drexel gets an at-large bid.
Saint Mary's Gaels - 27-5 (West Coast Conference)
With a 78-74 win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the Saint Mary's Gaels won the West Coast Conference Tournament and earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. With an RPI in the low 30's, combined with quality wins over Gonzaga (during the regular season), and two wins over BYU, Saint Mary's would probably have gotten a bid even if they lost the championship game.
The team that did lose, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, have an even better RPI, plus wins over Notre Dame, Oral Roberts, Xavier, Saint Mary's, and two wins over BYU. Gonzaga is a lock for a 2012 at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
Creighton Bluejays - 28-5 (Missouri Valley Conference)
The Creighton Bluejays won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament by defeating the Illinois State Redbirds in the final, 83-79 in OT. That gave Creighton an automatic berth, but the Bluejays, who beat San Diego State, Northwestern, Wichita State, and Long Beach State, would have gotten a bid even if they lost.
Illinois State will not get a bid, even though they knocked off Wichita State in the semifinals. Despite the loss, 27-5 Wichita State will still get a bid.
Murray State Racers - 30-1 (Ohio Valley Conference)
The Murray State Racers won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament over the Tennessee State Tigers, 54-52. Murray State was a lock for the NCAA Tournament anyway, but their win saves an at-large bid for another team. Going to be interesting to see how high a seed Murray State will get.
Belmont Bruins - 27-7 (Atlantic Sun Conference)
The Belmont Bruins defeated the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, 83-69, in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Championship to earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. With an RPI in the 60's, I don't think Belmont would have got a bid if they lost.
UNC-Asheville Bulldogs - 24-9 (Big South Conference)
The top seeded UNC-Asheville Bulldogs won the Big South Conference Tournament over VMI, 80-64. That locked up a bid for the Bulldogs, which they would not have gotten without winning their tournament.