Busting Brackets
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2017 NCAA Tournament: 10 mid-majors that deserve at-large bids

By Taylor Sturm

Mar 20, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders head coach Kermit Davis looks on during the second half of the second round against the Syracuse Orange in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders head coach Kermit Davis looks on during the second half of the second round against the Syracuse Orange in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 18, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Monmouth Hawks head coach King Rice talks with his team during a time-out in the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse defeated Monmouth 71-50. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Monmouth Hawks head coach King Rice talks with his team during a time-out in the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse defeated Monmouth 71-50. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Monmouth Hawks

With an RPI in the 40s that could be in the 30s by the time the MAAC tournament is over, Monmouth would basically be a lock for the Big Dance if it wasn’t for their two opening losses in conference play. Their non-conference schedule saw their only losses come at the hands of the then-ranked Syracuse Orange, the now-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, and the perennially ranked North Carolina Tar Heels – an extremely impressive résumé for any mid-major.

Since their two opening MAAC losses, however, Monmouth have won 16 straight games and are on a roll. The Selection Committee has given teams the benefit of the doubt before when they get hot at the right time, but will that privilege extend to the Hawks if they lose in the MAAC tournament?

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