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SoCon Basketball: 2018-19 key storylines for UNC-Greensboro at Wofford

By Tristan Freeman

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 20: Players of the Wofford Terriers celebrate following their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean Smith Center on December 20, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wofford won 79-75. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 20: Players of the Wofford Terriers celebrate following their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean Smith Center on December 20, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wofford won 79-75. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 8: Led by committee chairman Mark Hollis (3rd from L), the NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee meets on Wednesday afternoon, March 8, 2017 in New York City. The committee is gathered in New York to begin the five-day process of selecting and seeding the field of 68 teams for the NCAA MenÕs Basketball Tournament. The final bracket will be released on Sunday evening following the completion of conference tournaments. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 8: Led by committee chairman Mark Hollis (3rd from L), the NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee meets on Wednesday afternoon, March 8, 2017 in New York City. The committee is gathered in New York to begin the five-day process of selecting and seeding the field of 68 teams for the NCAA MenÕs Basketball Tournament. The final bracket will be released on Sunday evening following the completion of conference tournaments. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) /

SoCon Bracketology

When it comes to mid-majors who are relatively safe in terms of securing an at-large bid, Gonzaga, Nevada, and Buffalo are teams who immediately come to mind. But Wofford has quietly been setting themselves up as another team with some cushion as well.

The Terriers have continued to build a strong overall resume for themselves, with a NET ranking of 29 and zero bad losses on the season. Wofford’s only defeats are to Oklahoma, North Carolina, Kansas and Mississippi State, all projected tournament teams on the road. They also have quality wins over UNC Greensboro and Furman on the road, along with a South Carolina team that has become much more respectable in SEC play.

As for the Spartans, they’re also in the NCAA Tournament conversation as an at-large candidate. According to our latest Bracketology, UNC Greensboro is along the “Next Four Out” lines, while Wofford is an eight seed. Like the Terriers, the Spartans don’t have any bad losses on the season. But their lack of quality wins overall is the reason they’re on the wrong side of the bubble at the moment.

Furman, who just beat the Spartans this week, is also “Next Four Out”. And while East Tennessee State will have to most likely rely on the automatic bid to get into the Big Dance, they still have a top-75 NET rating and will be considered a “quality win” for the other SoCon teams who beat them.

There’s a great possibility that the SoCon will have multiple bids. But things will have to fall into place for that to happen. That’s why this game is so important, as a win by UNC Greensboro could place both teams into the NCAA Tournament for the time being.

Here’s a look at what each team needs to do to win this important matchup.