Bracketology Breakdown
Last Four In: Central Connecticut State, Nicholls, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois
First Six Out: Tennessee-Martin, The Citadel, North Dakota, Sam Houston State, New Hampshire, Albany, Towson
We’re going to keep two Northeast Conference teams in the field again this week. It seems unlikely that continues after Selection Sunday, but both Duquesne and Central Connecticut State are as deserving as anyone else right now.
It’s amazing the amount of parity that’s working in so many conferences. Top to bottom cannibalism is something that usually happens in the Missouri Valley, but this year the hunger has spread like the plague. The Colonial is closer to being a one bid league than four. Who would have ever thought that to start the year? Will that continue? Likely not. There’s eight teams sitting at 4-5 or better that could all receive at-large bids by finishing 3-0. There’s a mess of games between these teams though, so don’t imagine for a minute that a six-bid outcome will happen again. The Southland is a jumbled up mess also. Six teams, not in the current field, also sit 4-5 or better. Many of them have a plus record in conference, so 3-0 finishes could put many of these teams in play also. A similar story is happening in the Ohio Valley and Southern also, but to a slightly lesser degree. Good news, there’s a good chance your team is still alive. Bad news, so is just about everyone else’s.
Bids By Conference
Big Sky (4): *Weber State, Montana, Sacramento State, Montana State
Big South (2): *Monmouth, Kennesaw State
Colonial (2): *James Madison, Villanova
Missouri Valley (5): *North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Southern Illinois
Northeast (2): *Duquesne, Central Connecticut State
Ohio Valley (2): *Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri State
Patriot (1): *Holy Cross
Pioneer (1): *San Diego
Southern (2): *Furman, Wofford
Southland (3): *Central Arkansas, Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls
* denotes projected conference automatic qualifier
