Among the finest elements of each March is seeing coaches, gamers and applications who’ve by no means heard their title referred to as on Choice Sunday have fun the second that each one adjustments.
Of the 364 groups which might be present members of Division-I, there are 38 which have by no means gone dancing and which might be eligible to make this yr’s subject.
Three of these 38 groups — Military, William & Mary, and The Citadel — have been Division-I applications since “Division-I” grew to become a factor in 1910. A fourth, St. Francis (NY), was additionally in that group earlier than shutting down its complete athletics program two seasons in the past.
Of all of the years I’ve been writing, I don’t suppose there’s ever been a yr like this the place so many common season champions/match favorites have been applications which have by no means heard their names referred to as on Choice Sunday earlier than. This has the potential to be the most important Championship Week ever for the “By no means Been Dancing Membership.”
1. Utah Valley (WAC)
The Wolverines have developed an unlucky status over time of following up a stellar common season with a particularly disappointing effort within the WAC match. Within the final decade, they’ve been upset 4 instances in a semifinal sport the place they had been enjoying because the No. 2 seed.
This feels just like the yr to place all that to mattress. Utah Valley is 13-1 in convention play, with their lone defeat approaching the street towards second-place Grand Canyon.
2. Excessive Level (Huge South)
Like Utah Valley, the Panthers have additionally lately developed a status for not having the ability to capitalize on wildly profitable common seasons. They’ve gained a whopping six common season convention championships since 2013, and have a grand complete of zero NCAA match appearances to point out for it.
For the second straight yr, they’ll be the No. 1 seed for the Huge South match.
3. UC San Diego (Huge West)
It’s the primary season that the Tritons have been eligible to play within the NCAA match, and so they simply is likely to be the most effective mid-major group in the whole nation. Doesn’t appear completely honest, however there are many issues about this sport’s postseason that aren’t honest.
4. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC)
The Wildcats have been enjoying Division-I basketball since 1981 with out a single journey to the NCAA match. They haven’t made it to the SWAC title sport since 2012, however that might change subsequent week. They’re at present taking a look at being the 2 or the three seed behind doubtless common season champ Southern.
5. North Alabama (Atlantic Solar)
The Lions are within the Atlantic Solar semifinals for the second straight yr and are in search of their first convention match title since becoming a member of D-I in 2019. They break up each the common season convention title and each their common season assembly with perennial A-Solar energy Lipscomb.
6. Quinnipiac (Metro Atlantic Athletic)
Quinnipiac gained its first ever MAAC common season title final season, however noticed its goals of creating the NCAA match for the primary time smashed by way of a brutal semifinal loss to eventual champion Saint Peter’s. They enter the ultimate week of the common season two wins away from locking up one other outright common season championship.
The Bobcats have been members of Division-I since 1999, however haven’t performed in a convention match championship sport since making it to the finals of the Northeast Convention match in 2010.
7. Merrimack (Metro Atlantic Athletic)
If the Bobcats slip up, one other member of the by no means been dancing membership could possibly be their to grab up their computerized bid. Merrimack is 13-6 and at present a half sport out of second place within the MAAC standings.
As talked about earlier, the Warriors truly gained each the Northeast Convention’s common season and match titles in 2023, however had been ineligible for the NCAA match due to the NCAA’s absurd transition rule. That set the stage for Fairleigh Dickinson to crash the dance and ultimately stun top-seeded Purdue within the first spherical.
Merrimack has greater than earned its personal March Insanity second.
8. Maine (America East)
The Black Bears have performed 79 seasons of Division-I basketball with out a single journey to the NCAA match. On Saturday, enjoying because the America East’s No. 3 seed, they may host a convention match sport for the primary time in 30 years.
9. SIU-Edwardsville (Ohio Valley)
SIU-Edwardsville has largely had a tough go of it since becoming a member of Division-I again in 2011. A lot in order that they’ve by no means even superior to a convention match semifinal. That ought to be about to vary, because the Cougars will begin this yr’s OVC match because the No. 2 seed.
10. Omaha (Summit League)
In case you’re having hassle maintaining with all of this, that is the trash can group. They’ve been enjoying D-I basketball since 2013 and that is simply their greatest likelihood to earn an NCAA match bid.
11. Youngstown State (Horizon League)
The Penguins performed their first season of Division-I basketball in 1948 and so they haven’t performed for a convention match championship since 1998!
They had been the Horizon League’s No. 1 seed two seasons in the past and received knocked off within the semis. Then they had been the 2-seed final yr and received surprised within the quarters.
First-year head coach Ethan Faulkner will attempt to lead Youngstown to the promised land because the Horizon League’s 4-seed this week.
It’s time to place a smile on this penguin’s face.
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He’s been scowling for 80 years.
12. Purdue Fort Wayne (Horizon League)
The Mastodons don’t have fairly as robust an opportunity as Youngstown does within the Horizon, however they’re a live-shot because the league’s 5-seed.
13. Military (Patriot League)
The “unique three” member with the most effective shot this yr, Military will open play within the Patriot League quarterfinals on Thursday because the 6-seed.
