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Sunday, December 22, 2024
Part 5 of our series recalling, researching and reviewing NCAA Tournament Selection Sundays of the past looks at the years 2005-09. Included: Jim Nantz and Billy Packer tee off on the MVC and CAA in 2006, the same year the Valley got four bids but probably (our opinion) should’ve had six.
2019 ended with a reminder of how conference play is different, especially having to go on the road. Plus a shocker in Ames, a near-shocker in the Big East, and a mix of conference and non-conference games closed out the year.
Let’s give Gonzaga credit while talking about North Carolina’s concerns, because the Tar Heels lost to a really good team. Plus a tough night for the SEC, another tripleheader of action, and the leader of the pack wonders why so few people trust his organization.
We tip off our season-ending conference Post-Mortem series with the Missouri Valley, where parity was rampant but as a whole it wasn’t a vintage season as inconsistency and injuries plagued many teams.
Illinois State’s season has not gone as planned, but the Redbirds won their opener in the 2019 MVC Tournament and now look to buck trends against play-in teams going far at Arch Madness.
On a busy day of conference tournament action, a regular season result is a big one for a preseason favorite. Plus a conference tournament roundup, more in the FBI investigation, and a coach is officially cleared of wrongdoing in a terrible accident.
You may have forgotten about one of the modern day blueblood programs, and for somewhat understandable reason, but they reminded us that they are still around on Sunday. Plus the road is the great equalizer for one powerhouse program, a couple of mid-major races remain hotly contested, and a tie is broken in the Patriot League for now.
A wild night a couple of nights ago was followed up by a relatively ho-hum evening. Plus one team’s misery ends while another begins, mediocrity reigns out west, and a Fighting Camel climbs an all-time list a little further.
It’s time to ask a seemingly age-old question: is this the year Kansas finally gets knocked off in the Big 12? Plus a big win in the Big East, there’s a leader in the Valley again, and both a pleasant surprise and disappointment in Philadelphia.
It has not been the best of seasons for the Missouri Valley Conference so far, but a big midseason showdown is coming after Loyola and Illinois State won on Wednesday. Also, St. John’s bounces back in the Big East and a Maine native has a historic performance for his homestate Black Bears.
