By Eshaan Joshi
Oh boy, it’s March and I cannot wait for selection. This article will be published before I can watch the results of Selection Sunday, which means I’m going into this fully blind, barring a few puff pieces from the Athletic or Bracketology that give me a vague idea of what the field is looking like.
It feels like college hoops is going insane this year. The bubble, a term for teams teetering on the brink of getting into the Big Dance, is incredibly strong this year, with teams like Indiana State, Michigan State, Saint John’s, Providence, Oklahoma, and Seton Hall boasting resumes that would’ve been slam-dunk at large bids in any other year. Meanwhile, the big thieves are playing their minds out in the conference tournaments, with a solid chunk of upsets completely changing the playing field as it stands.
First, Temple is in the American Athletic Conference title game, despite being one of the worst teams in the league. Should they win, they’re going to steal the AAC bid and get an automatic berth in the Big Dance, which could leave UAB either out of the field, or steal a bid from another bubble team. With NC State beating UNC to win their first ACC title since the ’80s, that’s another bid fully stolen, and Oregon winning the last, ever PAC-12 conference tournament picks up another bid. Neither of those teams were expected to be tournament players, and now? Well, I’m looking forward to March.
Meanwhile, these streaky runs are sort of exactly what you need to actually play in the Big Dance. It’s single-elimination, six games, and it never really manages to give the best team, as much as it gives you the most fun. The whole point is upsets, and these conference tournament upsets are just a little taste of what’s to come as the month rolls on.
Either way, I think St. John’s and Michigan State are the only bubble teams that’ll get in. I want to be a fan of the Sycamores, and any other year Indiana State would’ve gotten in, but this year it’s just too damn much. Meanwhile, on the other end of the situation, UConn, UNC, Houston, and Purdue are all projected to be No. 1 seeds, even though three out of four lost big in their respective conference tournaments. Those No. 1 seeds have a history of winning in March, being contenders. Oh, and Purdue is there too, I guess.
I’m excited for March Madness. Fill out your brackets, let’s see who’s gonna make some noise this year.
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