Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 2021 NCAA Tournament teams

By Daniel Benjamin

Feb 20, 2021; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) flexes after a basket and foul during a game against the San Diego Toreros in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs won 106-69. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2021; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) flexes after a basket and foul during a game against the San Diego Toreros in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs won 106-69. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Drake Bulldogs Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Drake Bulldogs Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

The NCAA Basketball Tournament bracket was released on Sunday evening. Here is a look at the rankings of all 68 teams broken down into tiers.

Won’t get past the first week

68. Mount Saint Mary’s (12-10): The Mountaineers finished with a winning record for the first time in three seasons. They are also in the Tournament for the first time since 2017.

66. Appalachain State (17-11): The Mountaineers, who were last in the NCAA Tournament in 2000, finished seventh in the Sun Belt, but they have posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in a decade.

66. Texas Southern (16-8): The Tigers are in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last eight years. They are 1-8 all-time in the tourney.

65. Norfolk State (16-7): The Spartans are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance ever.

64. Hartford (15-8): The Hawks are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

63. Drexel (12-7):  The Dragons are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time this century. Drexel is an outstanding shooting club though they struggle defensively.

62. Iona (12-5): Rick Pitino has his fifth team in the NCAA Tournament in his first season with the Gaels.

61. Cleveland State: The Vikings, in the “Big Dance” for the first time since 2009, shared the Horizon League title with Wright State and then earned a Tournament bid by winning the conference tournament.

60. Oral Roberts (16-10): The Golden Eagles, who are in the tournament for the first time since 2008, finished fourth in the Summitt League, but they have won five straight contests. ORU competed well, for the most part, in four of its five games against high major teams.

59. Morehead State (21-7): The Eagles, in the tournament for the first time since 2011, have won 19 of their last 20 games. But MSU has been manhandled by every high major team that they have faced this year.

58. North Texas (17-9): The Mean Green are “Dancing” for the first time since 2010. UNT is a veteran team that is strong defensively but struggles with turnovers and getting to the free-throw line.

57. Eastern Washington (16-7): The Eagles, who play an uptempo style, are in the tournament for the third time ever. EWU struggles with forcing turnovers and rim protection.

56. Abilene Christian (23-4): The Wildcats defend well, and they are experienced as well as fairly deep. However, ACU is not overly athletic and struggles with fouls and shooting free throws.

55. Colgate (14-1): The Raiders are in the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. They like to play fast and light up a scoreboard.

53. UNC Greensboro (21-8): The Spartans have won 20 games in each of the last five years and are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance during this span. Can Greensboro score enough is the biggest question as they are not a good shooting team from deep.

53. Winthrop (23-1): The Eagles, in the tournament for the first time since 2017, are a very good shooting team and have four players in double-figures. Winthrop is 1-10 all-time in the NCAA, with its lone win coming in 2007.

52. Grand Canyon (17-6):  Bryce Drew has done a fabulous job in his first season with the Antelopes, who are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. GCU has a win over Nevada and played Arizona State, Colorado, and San Francisco tough this year.

51. Utah State (20-8): The Aggies defend well and are great on the offensive boards.

50. Drake (23-4): The Bulldogs would have been a dangerous team, as their only weakness is their inability to get to the foul line, if not for the season-ending injuries to Roman Penn and Shaquan Hemphill.

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