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Sunday, December 22, 2024
Part 6 of our year-by-year deep dives looking at the NCAA Tournament bubbles past brings us to the years 2010-14. The 68-team tourney arrives, TV commentators go ballistic about VCU’s selection in its Final Four year, and inspired picks in 2012 and 2013 are followed by a decided shift in committee philosophy the next year.
It’s early yet, but on the first full day of Atlantic 10 play, things largely held to form and that also meant a few road wins. Plus the home team comes out on top in a rivalry game, and a stunner in the Pac-12 before a blowout later on.
Two Big 12 programs got big wins on Wednesday and hope each is a sign of better things to come. Plus more tournament action includes a few other championship games, a Tiger will be out as long as first thought, and wrist injuries sideline a couple of key veterans.
Tournaments may be the talk of the town, but Stephen F. Austin took that over for one night at least. Plus a big tournament delivers, one tournament is getting smaller, and a new assistant is coming to Omaha.
The first day of action in the Maui Invitational didn’t quite start off as expected, but that might help in a year where it may be surpassed in terms of having the best field. Plus more tournament action includes one championship, a program first in Richmond, and a Hawkeye is done for the season.
At long last, Texas gets the kind of win they had yet to pick up under Shaka Smart, and not a moment too soon. Plus a Pirate star is out for a bit, a bounceback attempt continues, and some extra sessions were needed on the day.
Tennessee toughed out an SEC road win at Ole Miss that had a big-time feel, maybe appropriate since March is just a day away now. Villanova did the same at home against Marquette, Texas should be in serious trouble, and the wacky MVC race will come down to the final day.
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.
Friday night couldn’t match Thursday in terms of surprises, but certainly gave us good games with high seeds advancing. Plus a long-time coach is out in Philadelphia, another one is not going anywhere in the CAA, and transfer news that hurts a rebuilding effort.
The Southeastern Conference is almost certainly on the precipice of a banner year for NCAA Tournament berths. Just which of those teams will receive them, though, and what might happen with them when they get there, will continue to be a mystery of the wildest proportions.
