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Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Part 3 of our reflection, research and review of Selection Sundays and the NCAA Tournament bubble over the last 35 years looks year-by-year at 1995-99. The stretch saw conference champions like Manhattan and Miami (Ohio) rewarded in 1995, a shift towards mid-pack majors as the 90s drew to a close but also surges by a trio of Midwestern leagues.
In a season where even the best teams are very capable of losing games to teams they shouldn’t, one team almost did twice and then won a tournament in impressive fashion. Plus a tournament runner-up is without a few players, a few helpers were handed out without scoring, and a few other results as the tournaments finish up.
As early season tournaments get going with a few finishing up, one champion shows us what college basketball is these days as they show some resilience. Plus a few more tournament results, and another showcase features a triple overtime game that flew under many radars.
One of the last games of the night was all we could hope for and more, and also leaves one hopeful about future matchups between the two teams. Plus more tournaments get going, a straw breaks the camel’s back with transfer waivers, and a Wildcat is gone from the program.
The best game of Sunday was one that involved coaches who know each other very, very well, but the game stood out on its own. Plus a couple of blowouts, redemption for one conference, and a big day for another one.
The Pac-12 champions were expected to have a chance at that before the season, though not quite in the fashion they did it. Plus championship games rule the day, a few more semifinals set the stage, and one more coaching change.
Arizona State started strong, but it was all downhill from there as Vanderbilt topped the ranked Sun Devils at Memorial Gym. Plus, Gardner-Webb continues recent history of beating big boys.
The Maui Invitational is the last great preseason tournament left, and it opened with another terrific set of quarterfinals, even as it was missing something-host Chaminade. Plus more tourney recaps
Wichita State and Cincinnati were poised to be the hottest things going in the American Athletic Conference this year, and both have generally delivered early in the season, if going through minor hiccups. Who else is going to join them at the top? Is it possible it could be…Tulane?
It took just one round of Big East play for us to be reminded again just how beautiful double round-robin conference schedules are.
