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NCAA Basketball: 10 teams hurt most by 2020 NCAA Tournament cancellation

By Matthew Travis

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Virginia Cavaliers fans cheer on their team against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Virginia Cavaliers fans cheer on their team against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 09: Isaac Kante #32 of the Hofstra Pride (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 09: Isaac Kante #32 of the Hofstra Pride (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

10. Mid-Major Conference Tournament Winners

Several conference tournaments had already taken place by the time the NCAA made the announcement that there would be no NCAA Tournament.

Here is the list of teams that had already punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament:

  • East Tennessee State
  • Belmont
  • Northern Kentucky
  • Hofstra
  • North Dakota State
  • Liberty
  • Robert Morris
  • Winthrop
  • Bradley

Some of these teams were set to play in their first NCAA Tournament in a while, while other teams were looking to win their first tournament game in program history. Unfortunately for these teams, they’ll have to wait until next season or maybe longer.

East Tennessee State

The SOCON Tournament champions were set to play in only their third NCAA Tournament in the last 10 years and now that won’t happen. The Buccaneers have won only three games in program history and haven’t won one since 1992.

The 2020 NCAA Tournament was ETSU’s opportunity to hopefully get another win and show that they’re more than just a SOCON Champion.

Belmont

Belmont has become somewhat of a tournament regular over the past decade, but they have still yet to win a tournament game in program history. The Bruins had an opportunity to get their first tournament win ever after going 26-7 this season and winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

Now, Belmont will have to wait till 2021 at the earliest to potentially win their first tournament game in program history.

Northern Kentucky

The Northern Kentucky Norse were set to make their third NCAA Tournament appearance as a Division I program. After punching their ticket to the big dance for the third time over the last four seasons thanks to a Horizon League tournament win, the Norse had the potential to get a tournament win for the first time as a D1 team.

Could the Norse have been the 2020 March Madness Cinderella? Unfortunately, we will never find out and we will have to wait and see if the Norse can keep it up next season.

Hofstra

For the first time since 2001, the Hofstra Pride were NCAA Tournament bound, but now that is not the case. The Pride has made the NCAA Tournament only four times in program history, including two wins in 1976 and 1977.

Could the Pride have notched their third NCAA Tournament win in 2020? We won’t find out and we will have to wait and see if Hofstra can make the tournament next season.

North Dakota State

For the second consecutive year and fifth time as a D1 program, North Dakota State was set to make an NCAA Tournament appearance. North Dakota State has one NCAA Tournament win in program history when they beat Oklahoma in overtime in 2014.

Now, the Bison will have to wait until 2021 to potentially get their second tournament win in program history.

Liberty

Coming off a season in 2018-19 when Liberty got their first tournament win in program history, the Flames were set to make back-to-back tournament appearances for the first time. Liberty was an astonishing 30-4 on the season and had a ton of potential going into the NCAA Tournament.

Now, Liberty is left wondering what could’ve been this season and will have to wait until 2021 to potentially be a cinderella story.

Robert Morris

Robert Morris was set to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 after winning the Northeast Conference Tournament. The Colonials finished the season with a record of 20-14 after running through the NEC Tournament with wins against St. Francis (BKN), LIU and St. Francis (PA).

The Colonials likely would’ve had to play a play-in game to be a 16 seed, but now they’ll have to wait to go dancing for another year.

Winthrop

For the second time since 2010, Winthrop was poised to play in the NCAA Tournament after running through the Big South Tournament. The Eagles had a phenomenal 2019-20 season with a 24-10 record overall and a 15-3 record against conference opponents.

Winthrop has only one tournament win in program history and was hoping to notch their second in 2020, but we now know that will not be the case.

Bradley

Bradley is a historic program as the Braves were tournament runner-ups in both 1950 and 1954 and have made the Sweet 16 two more times. However, since the 1950s Bradley has been less than historic with only three tournament wins, including a 2006 run to the Sweet 16.

After a surprising MVC Tournament win in which they entered as the four-seed, Bradley was set to appear in only their second NCAA Tournament since 2016, but that is no longer the case.

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