There were four more tickets punched to the big dance on Tuesday night. To begin, Wright State took down Detroit Mercy in the Horizon League Championship behind Kellen Pickett's 17 points. In the CAA, Hofstra held on against Monmouth to secure their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 years thanks to true freshman Preston Edmead's 26 points.
Moving along, Siena was able to pull off an upset against top-seeded Merrimack in the MAAC Championship, the Saints' first tournament bid in 16 years. Lastly, Gonzaga defeated Santa Clara in their final West Coast Conference Championship, as they are headed to the Pac-12 next season. Additionally, Long Island won the NEC Tournament, though the Sharks already clinched a bid on Saturday because Mercyhurst is ineligible to compete in March Madness. Three more bids will be clinched tonight in the Southland, Patriot League and Big Sky.
It was a tough night on Tuesday for some bubble teams, while others lived to see another day. In the ACC, Stanford was upset by Pittsburgh on a last second shot and Virginia Tech was upset by Wake Forest in overtime. These losses will more than likely end each team's season. Furthermore, SMU beat Syracuse and will face Louisville this afternoon in a massive game for their résumé. Indiana will likely have to defeat Northwestern today if the Hoosiers want to see their name called on Selection Sunday. Cincinnati also has a prime opportunity to get themselves in the mix when they play UCF this afternoon.
Bracket is forecasted on games through March 10.
Bubble Watch:
Last Four Byes:Â Texas A&M, Santa Clara, North Carolina St., Missouri
Last Four In:Â Texas, SMU, VCU, Indiana
First Four Out:Â New Mexico, Cincinnati, Auburn, California
Next Four Out:Â Virginia Tech, San Diego St., Seton Hall, Oklahoma St.
East (Washington, D.C.)
Greenville
(1) Duke (ACC) vs. (16) UMBC (America East)/(16) Lehigh (Patriot)
(8) Georgia vs. (9) Iowa
Tampa
(5) St. John's (Big East) vs. (12) Yale (Ivy)
(4) Virginia vs. (13) Northern Iowa (MVC)
Tampa
(6) North Carolina vs. (11) Missouri
(3) Alabama vs. (14) Montana (Big Sky)
Saint Louis
(7) Villanova vs. (10) Texas A&M
(2) Michigan St. vs. (15) Queens (NC) (ASUN)
West (San José)
(1) Arizona (Big 12) vs. (16) Howard (MEAC)/(16) Bethune-Cookman (SWAC)
(8) UCLA vs. (9) TCU
Greenville
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Stephen F. Austin (Southland)
(4) Texas Tech vs. (13) Hofstra (CAA)
Portland
(6) Tennessee vs. (11) SMU/(11) Indiana
(3) Iowa St. vs. (14) UC Irvine (Big West)
Oklahoma City
(7) Saint Mary's vs. (10) Miami (OH)
(2) Illinois vs. (15) Furman (SoCon)
Midwest (Chicago)
Buffalo
(1) Michigan (Big Ten) vs. (16) Long Island (NEC)
(8) Clemson vs. (9) Utah St. (Mountain West)
Portland
(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) High Point (Big South)
(4) Kansas vs. (13) Utah Valley (WAC)
Buffalo
(6) BYU vs. (11) North Carolina St.
(3) Nebraska vs. (14) North Dakota St. (Summit)
Saint Louis
(7) Miami (FL) vs (10) Santa Clara
(2) Houston vs. (15) Wright St. (Horizon)
South (Houston)
Philadelphia
(1) Florida (SEC) vs. (16) Siena (MAAC)
(8) Saint Louis (A10) vs. (9) Ohio St.
San Diego
(5) Arkansas vs. (12) South Florida (American)
(4) Purdue vs. (13) Liberty (C-USA)
Philadelphia
(6) Louisville vs. (11) Texas/VCU
(3) Gonzaga (WCC) vs. (14) Troy (Sun Belt)
Oklahoma City
(7) Kentucky vs (10) UCF
(2) UConn vs. (15) Tennessee St. (OVC)
