NCAA Basketball: Breakdown of all 32 autobids for 2022 NCAA Tournament
By Bryan Mauro
Georgia State Panthers – Sun Belt
Record: 18-10 and 9-5 in Conference
Colors: White and Blue
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Last Appearance: 2018-2019
The Panthers are one of the historically great Sun Belt programs, they almost always finish near the top of the league and are always a threat to win the league tournament. This version of the Panthers is not their best that has ever made the tournament, but it might be their best defensively. Georgia State makes it extremely hard to get a quality look.
The other factor at play is that the Panthers play at one of the faster paces in the country on offense, but on defense, they force one of the slowest paces in the country. It is a contrast that has worked well for them. With the right matchup, the Panthers could be a problem for a top seed.
The guards are all seniors and all of them are program guys. They all play well together. Corey Allen and Kane Williams run the show and are the leaders on the court and in the huddle. The Panthers are making their first appearance under head coach Rob Lanier.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks – ASUN
Record: 21-10 and 13-3 in Conference
Colors: White and Red
Location: Jacksonville, Alabama
Last Appearance: 2016-2017
Raise your hand if you knew that Jacksonville State was in the state of Alabama? Not many people know that, and it is always a good bit of trivia to impress your friends. The Gamecocks are the only team in the field as an auto bid who didn’t win their conference tournament.
The Atlantic Sun conference tournament was won by Bellarmine, and since Bellarmine is currently in their transition to Division 1, they are not eligible for the NCAA tournament. The bid then went to the regular-season champion which was Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks joined the Atlantic Sun this year from the Ohio Valley and finally returned to the tournament.
They returned all their production from a year ago and were able to have a great regular season to get into the tournament. Darian Adams averages 16 a game for Jacksonville State.