Three more college basketball teams punched their ticket to the Big Dance. The Big Sky, Patriot League and Southland Conferences wrapped up their conference tournaments with their champions clinching automatic berths to the NCAA tourney. Let’s take a look at who else will be going to March Madness.
NCAA Tourney – Big Sky Conference: Montana vs. Montana St.
The Big Sky Conference tournament came down to a battle for bragging rights in the state of Montana as the Montana Grizzlies took on the Montana St. Bobcats. Both teams likely needed to win the tournament to make the NCAA tournament as they entered the conference tournament as the three and five seeds. When all was said and done the underdog Bobcats managed to upset Montana to win the conference for the third straight year. Montana St. heads to the Big Dance for the sixth time in school history.
NCAA Tourney – Patriot League: Lehigh vs. Colgate
A school that shares its name with a popular toothpaste brand is headed back to the Big Dance. Bradley Cummins scored a career-high 19 points to lead Colgate to the 74-55 win and the Patriot League title. The Raiders win the conference for the fifth time in six seasons and seventh overall. The win ties Colgate with Holy Cross and Bucknell for most Patriot League championships.
NCAA Tourney: Southland Conference – Nicholls vs. McNeese St.
A 22-year NCAA tournament drought comes to an end. McNeese St. cruised to the 76-57 win over Nicholls and an automatic March Madness bid. The win came on the one year anniversary of Will Wade being introduced as head coach. Wade brought an unbelievable turnaround to a program that hadn’t seen the Southland Conference tournament final in 12 years. McNeese heads to the Big Dance for only the third time in school history.
Saturday Clinching Scenarios
No teams will clinch NCAA tourney bids Thursday or Friday as the bigger conferences get into high gear. On Saturday, 13 teams wrap up their tournaments. The America East, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big West, Conference USA, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, SWAC and WAC crown their champions.
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