March Madness is always full of surprises, and this year was no exception. While sixty-eight teams celebrated their inclusion in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday, several teams were left fuming and feeling snubbed. Let’s take a look at six teams who were left staring blankly at their televisions after missing out on the big dance.
First up is St. John’s, with a record of 20-13. Despite a strong performance in the Big East quarterfinals and a close game against top-seed UConn in the semis, St. John’s was not even among the “First Four Out.” Coach Rick Pitino lambasted his squad after a loss to Seton Hall, and it seemed to light a fire under the team. However, their efforts were not enough to secure them a spot in the tournament.
Speaking of Seton Hall, they were also left out of the bracket despite a record of 20-12. The Pirates had a rough end to the regular season, dropping consecutive games to Creighton and UConn. They did manage to finish ahead of St. John’s as the second team in the “First Four Out,” but it wasn’t enough to earn them a spot in March Madness.
Providence, with a record of 21-13, also found themselves on the outside looking in. Coach Kim English had an up-and-down debut season after taking over for Ed Cooley. However, the Friars did have some notable wins under their belt, including an upset of Marquette and two wins over Creighton. Despite this, they were not among the “First Four Out” and were left out of the tournament.
Indiana State had an impressive season with a record of 28-6, but it wasn’t enough to secure them a spot in the NCAA Tournament. With a NET ranking of 29, they had the highest NET to ever get snubbed from the tournament. The team went 15-5 away from home and had their most victories since reaching the national championship game in 1979. Unfortunately, a loss to Drake in the MVC championship game sealed their fate.
Oklahoma, with a record of 20-12, missed out on the tournament for the third year in a row under Coach Porter Moser. While their defensive efficiency and ball-sharing on offense were commendable, it wasn’t enough to secure them a spot in March Madness. They were listed as the first team in the “First Four Out” after falling to TCU in the Big 12 tournament.
Finally, Pittsburgh, with a record of 22-11, also found themselves on the outside looking in. The Panthers had a slow start to their conference games but managed to finish strong with a win against Duke. Advancing to the ACC Tournament semifinals wasn’t enough to earn them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, despite having a NET ranking of 40.
Overall, these six teams can certainly classify themselves as snubs after missing out on the NCAA Tournament. Each team had their own unique story and accomplishments throughout the season. While they may be left fuming now, they can take pride in their performances and look forward to next season. March Madness is full of surprises, and sometimes those surprises come in the form of snubs.
