Conference: AAC (At-Large/Auto-Bid) Record: 30-4 (17-1) NCAA Tournament Seed: 6 (East) How they got to the Big Dance The SMU Mustangs had a pretty impressive regular season, but at the start it did not look they were going to finish the regular season as the best team in the AAC. The Mustangs began the season at 4-3 with non-conference losses to Michigan, USC and Boise State. However, after being defeated…
Conference: AAC (At-Large/Auto-Bid) Record: 29-5 (16-2) NCAA Tournament Seed: 6, South How they got to the Big Dance The Cincinnati Bearcats started the season with a pattern of three wins and then a loss. After beginning the season 3-0, they hit a bump in the Rhode, suffering a five-point loss to Rhode Island. They followed that up with three more wins, including an overtime victory at Iowa State, before losing…
Conference: WAC (Auto-Bid) Record: 28-5 (11-3) NCAA Tournament Seed: 14 (East) How they go to the Big Dance The Aggies had a very impressive season both in and out of conference play. New Mexico State started off slow, sitting at 2-2, but a loss to New Mexico in the middle of November would be the last defeat they would see in almost three months. The Aggies won an unprecedented 20…
Conference: OVC (Automatic-Bid) Record: 20-14 (9-7) NCAA Tournament Seed: 15 (Midwest) How they got to the Big Dance The Gamecocks had an average 2016-17 regular season but finished with 20 wins. The greatest highlight of their season so far has come in postseason play. It has been a season of firsts for Jacksonville State, the fourth seed in the OVC Tournament advanced to their first ever final after a win…
Conference: SEC (At-Large) Record: 19-15 (10-8) NCAA Tournament Seed: 9 How they got to the Big Dance Vanderbilt made history this year, becoming the first team with 15 losses to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, their strength of schedule and impressive wins warrant this selection. The Commodores had a very up and down season, but three wins over Florida along with victories over Iowa State…
Conference: Big East (At-Large) Record: 25-9 (10-8) NCAA Tournament Seed: 6 (Midwest) How they go to the Big Dance The Bluejays got off to a strong start this season, going 12-0 in non-conference play with an impressive win against Wisconsin. A few weeks later, Creighton was 18-1 with a win over Butler and its only loss coming to Villanova. However, in their 19th game of the season, the Bluejays suffered…
Feature photo courtesy of UMTerps.com LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On days when the Maryland Terrapins men’s basketball team had games throughout the season, Terps players, and eventually also fans, splattered social media with posts referring to game day as, “love day.” For the Terps, Thursday began as their 36th love day of the season. A duel with the No. 1 overall seed Kansas Jayhawks awaited No. 5 seed Maryland. But when…
Featured image courtesy of UMterps.com Guard Rasheed Sulaimon drew a foul in the backcourt with 43.4 seconds remaining in Maryland’s second round game against Hawaii. With his team leading 69-58, Sulaimon was giddy. He grabbed guard Melo Trimble and hugged him before strolling down the court to make two free throws. For the first time since 2003, the No. 5 seed Terps punched their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen as…
Feature Photo Courtesy of UMterps.com Since 1998, the Maryland Terrapins men’s basketball team has punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament 12 times. The Terps made it to the second round on each trip during this span. But in the past six trips, dating back to 2004, Maryland has failed to win its second round game and reach the Sweet 16. After defeating No. 12 seed South Dakota State 79-74…
Feature photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics. The clock was trickling towards zero. Moments after splitting two shots at the free throw line to give his team a 3-point lead, Maryland guard Jaylen Brantley closely defended South Dakota State Jackrabbits guard Keaton Moffitt at the top of the 3-point line. Looking for a teammate, Moffitt passed the ball. But guard Rasheed Sulaimon was there to snatch up the pass. With emotion…