SelectionSunday
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I’ll do my best to make this a daily preview/wrap-up throughout the season. The staples will be the Summit League slate, conference records vs. the Power 5/Gonzaga, and national key matchups/results. This one, because it’s Opening Night, is significantly longer.
My weekly "Field of 68" projection (see bottom) will be updated weekly every Monday both here and on the Golden Gopher Basketball Forum. Embrace the journey, start to finish!
COLLEGE HOOPS SUMMIT (Opening Night)
Reaching the Summit Slate
Omaha vs. Murray State, 12:30
Non-Division 1 @ Kansas City, 7
North Dakota @ Alabama, 7 (SECN+)
Utah Tech @ South Dakota, 7:30
South Dakota State vs. Merrimack, 8
North Dakota State @ Oregon State, 8:30 (ESPN+)
Denver @ Seattle, 9
St. Thomas @ Saint Mary’s, 9 (ESPN+)
Monday “Carrying the Banner vs. the Power 5/Gonzaga” Slate
America East
Albany @ Marquette
Binghamton @ Syracuse
New Hampshire @ Clemson
American
Boston College @ FAU
ASUN
Bellarmine @ Georgia
Central Arkansas @ North Carolina
Jacksonville @ Miami-Florida
Lipscomb @ Vanderbilt
West Georgia @ Nebraska
Big Sky
Eastern Washington @ UCLA
Montana State @ Colorado
Big South
Charleston Southern @ Virginia Tech
Gardner-Webb @ Minnesota
Big West
Cal Poly @ USC
Cal State Bakersfield @ Cal
Coastal
Campbell @ Wisconsin
Hofstra @ UCF
Horizon
Green Bay @ Kansas
IU-Indianapolis @ Ohio State
Oakland @ Michigan
Youngstown State @ Pitt
MAAC
Fairfield @ Penn State
Marist @ Xavier
Quinnipiac @ Saint John’s
Rider @ Virginia
Saint Peter’s @ Seton Hall
MEAC
Coppin State @ Maryland
Missouri @ Howard
Morgan State @ Georgetown
NCCU @ NC State
South Carolina State @ Louisville
UMES @ Georgia Tech
Mountain West
San Jose State @ Utah
NEC
Chicago State @ DePaul
Fairleigh Dickinson @ Iowa State
LIU @ Notre Dame
Mercyhurst @ Northwestern
New Haven @ UConn
Saint Francis @ Oklahoma
Patriot
American @ Wake Forest
Colgate @ Michigan State
Holy Cross @ Providence
Lehigh @ Houston
SoCon
Mercer @ Tennessee
Western Carolina @ Cincinnati
Southland
New Orleans @ TCU
Northwestern State @ Texas A&M
Southeastern Louisiana @ Ole Miss
UTRGV @ Baylor
SWAC
Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Washington
Bethune-Cookman @ Auburn
Jackson State @ Illinois
Southern U @ Arkansas
Texas Southern @ Gonzaga
Summit
North Dakota @ Alabama
WAC
Tarleton State @ SMU
Power 5/Gonzaga Head-to-Head
Arizona vs. Florida, 6 (TNT)
BYU vs. Villanova, 8:30 (TNT)
High 5
Furman vs. High Point, 5:30 (TUBE)
Arizona vs. Florida, 6 (TNT)
James Madison @ Akron, 6 (ESPN+)
BYU vs. Villanova, 8:30 (TNT)
St. Thomas @ Saint Mary’s, 9 (ESPN+)
Opening Night Pick to Click (0-0)
Murray State -4.5 over Omaha
Opening Night Dragon Slayer (0-0) – must be at least +7 underdog
James Madison +8.5 outright over Akron
WILL HOME-COURT MAGIC TRANSFER FROM SCHOENECKER TO LEE & PENNY ANDERSON ARENA?
St. Thomas opens its 2025-26 campaign with an 18-game home winning streak, second longest in the country, including 14-0 last season. Saint John’s leads the way with 20 straight, while right behind the Tommies is Duke (17). That’s keepin’ pretty good company.
UST’s first game in their new digs is Saturday at 7 p.m. (locally on FOX9) vs. Army, the alma mater of Lee Anderson.
TOMMIES IN THE RANKINGS
#118 NET (final 2024-25 ranking on ’25 Selection Sunday)
#124 Sports Illustrated (2025-26 preseason)
#133 Bart Torvik/T-Rank (2025-26 preseason)
#142 EvanMiya (2025-26 preseason)
#154 Haslametrics (2025-26 preseason)
#158 KenPom (2025-26 preseason)
SUMMIT (D1) NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS SINCE 2000 (bids weren’t necessarily earned as SL member)
South Dakota State (7) – 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
Oral Roberts (5) – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2021, 2023
*North Dakota State (4) – 2009, 2014, 2015, 2019
North Dakota (1) – 2017
Omaha (1) -- 2025
*Note, NDSU earned the Summit’s automatic bid in 2020, but the NCAA tourney was canceled due to the Corona
TOMS RECORD vs. SUMMIT LEAGUE OPPONENTS (38-37)
Denver (6-3)
North Dakota (6-3)
Omaha (6-3)
Kansas City (5-3)
*Western Illinois (3-2)
North Dakota State (5-4)
Oral Roberts (3-6)
South Dakota (2-6)
South Dakota State (2-7)
*no longer in Summit League
Singin' the South Dakota Blues: The Tommies have yet to defeat South Dakota State or South Dakota on the road.
SIZING UP THE 2025-26 SUMMIT
1. St. Thomas (13-3, 22-9)
2. South Dakota State (12-4, 22-9)
3. Omaha (12-4, 21-9)
4. North Dakota State (11-5, 20-11)
5. South Dakota (8-8, 17-14)
6. Denver (6-10, 11-20)
7. Kansas City (4-12, 9-22)
8. North Dakota (4-12, 10-22)
9. Oral Roberts (2-14, 6-25)
Player of the Year
Nolan Minessale, SO, St. Thomas
1st Team All-Summit
Carter Bjerke, RS-JR, St. Thomas
Isaac Bruns, JR, South Dakota
Kalen Garry, JR, South Dakota State
Ja'Sean Glover, SR, Omaha
*Markhi Strickland, SR, North Dakota State (Western Michigan)
2nd Team All-Summit
*Carson Johnson, SO, Denver (Minnesota State-Moorhead)
Eli King, SR, North Dakota
Tony Osburn, SR, Omaha
Jayson Petty, JR, Kansas City
Joe Sayler, SO, South Dakota State
Keep An Eye On
Noah Feddersen, JR, North Dakota State
Cameron Fens, SR, South Dakota
Jaden Jackson, SO, South Dakota State
*Nick Janowski, RS-FR, St. Thomas (Nebraska)
*Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, SO, St. Thomas (Miami-Florida/Iowa)
Zach Kraft, SO, North Dakota
Ryan Lafferty, SO, St. Thomas
Andy Stefonowicz, SO, North Dakota State
Kamryn Thomas, SR, Omaha
Lance Waddles, SR, Omaha
*Denotes newcomer
Newcomer of the Year: Markhi Strickland (North Dakota State)
Coach of the Year: Johnny Tauer (St. Thomas)
Game of the Year: St. Thomas @ Omaha (February 12)
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULING – SWACtion at the top; Big Ten worst among Power 5
Here’s how conferences fared (strongest to weakest) in my non-conference schedule rankings. The number in parentheses is the conference’s per-team average schedule ranking.
1 SWAC (80.75)
2 Big East (85.727)
3 Big XII (94.625)
4 ACC (95.611)
5 SEC (100.875)
6 Big Ten (106.777)
7 Southland (137.333)
8 WCC (141.416)
9 Mountain West (146.833)
10 ASUN (157.083)
11 Big Sky (169.9)
12 Missouri Valley (171.909)
13 Horizon (175.636)
14 American (178.461)
15 WAC (198.571)
16 Patriot (212)
17 OVC (213)
18 MEAC (213.75)
19 Summit (218.888)
20 NEC (219.6)
21 SoCon (227.1)
22 MAAC (232)
23 Atlantic 10 (234.214)
24 Sun Belt (239.928)
25 Big West (240)
26 MAC (240.23)
27 America East (252.444)
28 Conference USA (261)
29 Ivy (264.125)
30 Big South (283.222)
31 Coastal (291.538)
Best Schedulers in Every Conference (Michigan Leads the Way) – ranking is out of 365
#1 Michigan (Big Ten), #2 Memphis (American), #3 Santa Clara (WCC), #5 Mississippi State (SEC), #8 Alcorn State (SWAC), #9 New Orleans (Southland), #11 UNLV (Mountain West), #13 Duke (ACC), #14 Chicago State (NEC), #20 Rider (MAAC), #22 Oakland (Horizon), #23 Southeast Missouri State (OVC), #24 Marquette (Big East), #31 Texas Tech (Big XII), #35 Ohio (MAC), #36 Dayton (Atlantic 10), #45 Eastern Washington (Big Sky), #47 Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), #50 Campbell (Coastal), #67 Western Carolina (SoCon), #82 Evansville (Missouri Valley), #89 North Dakota State (Summit), #99 Colgate (Patriot), #100 Southern Utah (WAC), #109 New Hampshire (America East), #121 Princeton (Ivy), #123 Middle Tennessee (Conference USA), #141 Coppin State (MEAC), #148 Cal Poly (Big West), #151 Gardner-Webb (Big South), #164 ODU (Sun Belt)
Worst Schedulers in Every Conference (Fordham is Boredom)
#194 Kansas State (Big XII), #228 DePaul (Big East), #264 Northern Colorado (Big Sky), #267 South Carolina (SEC), #280 St. Thomas (Summit), #284 Boston College (ACC), #297 Penn State (Big Ten), #307 Abilene Christian (WAC), #311 Grambling State (SWAC), #317 Tulsa (American), #318 Loyola-Maryland (Patriot), #320 Pepperdine (WCC), #324 UC-San Diego (Big West), #327 Southern Indiana (OVC), #329 Delaware State (MEAC), #333 Stephen F. Austin (Southland), #338 Wright State (Horizon), #340 Indiana State (Missouri Valley), #343 Central Connecticut (NEC), #344 Louisiana Tech (Conference USA), #345 Air Force (Mountain West), #348 Fairfield (MAAC), #351 Austin Peay (ASUN), #355 The Citadel (SoCon), #356 Columbia (Ivy), #358 Maine (America East), #359 Charleston Southern (Big South), #361 Miami-Ohio (MAC), #362 Texas State (Sun Belt), #364 UNC-Wilmington (Coastal), #365 Fordham (Atlantic 10)
POST-CORONA (2020-21 through 2024-25) FINAL FOUR REPORT
As we head into a new season, here’s a snapshot look at the conferences and teams that have reached the Final Weekend since the "Maskccine” era:
Final Four Appearances by Conference/Team (20)
ACC (5) – Duke (2), Miami, North Carolina, NC State
Big East (3) – UConn (2), Villanova (1)
Big XII (3) – Baylor, Houston, Kansas
SEC (3) – Alabama, Auburn, Florida
American (1) – Houston
Big Ten (1) -- Purdue
Conference USA (1) -- FAU
Mountain West (1) – San Diego State
Pac 12 (1) -- UCLA
WCC (1) -- Gonzaga
National Runner-Ups (5)
ACC (1) – North Carolina
Big Ten (1) -- Purdue
Big XII (1) – Houston
Mountain West (1) – San Diego State
WCC (1) -- Gonzaga
National Champions (5)
Big East (2) – UConn (2)
Big XII (2) – Baylor, Kansas
SEC (1) – Florida
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My final preseason Field of 68 projection, with updated Bart Torvik (T-Rank) rank noted in parentheses. An * denotes the projected automatic qualifier in a multiple-bid conference.
FIELD OF 68 PROJECTION (11/3/25)
America East (1): Vermont (212)
American (2): *USF (65), Memphis (68)
ACC (5): *Duke (2), Louisville (11), North Carolina (22), NC State (38), SMU (50)
ASUN (1): Queens (252)
Atlantic 10 (2): VCU (49), *Loyola-Chicago (93)
Big East (4): *Saint John’s (7), UConn (10), Creighton (23), Marquette (54)
Big Sky (1): Idaho (186)
Big South (1): Winthrop (201)
Big Ten (11): Michigan (3), *Purdue (5), Illinois (8), UCLA (9), Ohio State (16), Michigan State (21), USC (26), Oregon (27), Wisconsin (30), Iowa (37), Nebraska (43)
Big XII (7): *Houston (1), BYU (6), Arizona (12), Iowa State (15), Kansas (18), Texas Tech (28), Baylor (35)
Big West (1): UC-Irvine (94)
Coastal (1): Towson (134)
Conference USA (1): Liberty (74)
Horizon (1): Wright State (222)
Ivy (1): Yale (95)
MAAC (1): Siena (167)
MAC (1): Miami-Ohio (108)
MEAC (1): Norfolk State (293)
Missouri Valley (1): Illinois State (99)
Mountain West (2): *Boise State (47), Utah State (62)
NEC (1): LIU (224)
OVC (1): Southeast Missouri State (168)
Patriot (1): Navy (219)
SEC (10): Florida (4), *Tennessee (13), Kentucky (14), Arkansas (17), Alabama (19), Vanderbilt (20), Missouri (25), Auburn (29), Oklahoma (31), Texas (34)
SoCon (1): East Tennessee State (193)
Southland (1): McNeese (102)
SWAC (1): Jackson State (189)
Summit (1): St. Thomas (133)
Sun Belt (1): James Madison (140)
WCC (3): *Gonzaga (24), Saint Mary’s (51), San Francisco (60)
WAC (1): Utah Valley (120)
------------------------
Last 4 In: Nebraska (43), VCU (49), SMU (50), Marquette (54)
Last 4 Automatic Qualifiers: Wright State (222), LIU (224), Queens (252), Norfolk State (293)
First 4 Out: Virginia (33), San Diego State (44), Ole Miss (45), Notre Dame (64)
A Dozen to Watch: Georgia (32), Texas A&M (36), Mississippi State (39), Cincinnati (40), Indiana (41), Maryland (42), Villanova (52), Clemson (53), Providence (57), George Washington (59), Grand Canyon (78), Saint Louis (83)
Non-Power 5 At-Large Bids (5): VCU (49), Saint Mary’s (51), San Francisco (60), Utah State (62), Memphis (68)
Multiple-Bid Conferences (9): Big Ten (11), SEC (10), Big XII (7), ACC (5), Big East (4), WCC (3), American (2), Atlantic 10 (2), Mountain West (2)
Next Field of 68 Projection: Monday, Nov. 10
My weekly "Field of 68" projection (see bottom) will be updated weekly every Monday both here and on the Golden Gopher Basketball Forum. Embrace the journey, start to finish!
COLLEGE HOOPS SUMMIT (Opening Night)
Reaching the Summit Slate
Omaha vs. Murray State, 12:30
Non-Division 1 @ Kansas City, 7
North Dakota @ Alabama, 7 (SECN+)
Utah Tech @ South Dakota, 7:30
South Dakota State vs. Merrimack, 8
North Dakota State @ Oregon State, 8:30 (ESPN+)
Denver @ Seattle, 9
St. Thomas @ Saint Mary’s, 9 (ESPN+)
Monday “Carrying the Banner vs. the Power 5/Gonzaga” Slate
America East
Albany @ Marquette
Binghamton @ Syracuse
New Hampshire @ Clemson
American
Boston College @ FAU
ASUN
Bellarmine @ Georgia
Central Arkansas @ North Carolina
Jacksonville @ Miami-Florida
Lipscomb @ Vanderbilt
West Georgia @ Nebraska
Big Sky
Eastern Washington @ UCLA
Montana State @ Colorado
Big South
Charleston Southern @ Virginia Tech
Gardner-Webb @ Minnesota
Big West
Cal Poly @ USC
Cal State Bakersfield @ Cal
Coastal
Campbell @ Wisconsin
Hofstra @ UCF
Horizon
Green Bay @ Kansas
IU-Indianapolis @ Ohio State
Oakland @ Michigan
Youngstown State @ Pitt
MAAC
Fairfield @ Penn State
Marist @ Xavier
Quinnipiac @ Saint John’s
Rider @ Virginia
Saint Peter’s @ Seton Hall
MEAC
Coppin State @ Maryland
Missouri @ Howard
Morgan State @ Georgetown
NCCU @ NC State
South Carolina State @ Louisville
UMES @ Georgia Tech
Mountain West
San Jose State @ Utah
NEC
Chicago State @ DePaul
Fairleigh Dickinson @ Iowa State
LIU @ Notre Dame
Mercyhurst @ Northwestern
New Haven @ UConn
Saint Francis @ Oklahoma
Patriot
American @ Wake Forest
Colgate @ Michigan State
Holy Cross @ Providence
Lehigh @ Houston
SoCon
Mercer @ Tennessee
Western Carolina @ Cincinnati
Southland
New Orleans @ TCU
Northwestern State @ Texas A&M
Southeastern Louisiana @ Ole Miss
UTRGV @ Baylor
SWAC
Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Washington
Bethune-Cookman @ Auburn
Jackson State @ Illinois
Southern U @ Arkansas
Texas Southern @ Gonzaga
Summit
North Dakota @ Alabama
WAC
Tarleton State @ SMU
Power 5/Gonzaga Head-to-Head
Arizona vs. Florida, 6 (TNT)
BYU vs. Villanova, 8:30 (TNT)
High 5
Furman vs. High Point, 5:30 (TUBE)
Arizona vs. Florida, 6 (TNT)
James Madison @ Akron, 6 (ESPN+)
BYU vs. Villanova, 8:30 (TNT)
St. Thomas @ Saint Mary’s, 9 (ESPN+)
Opening Night Pick to Click (0-0)
Murray State -4.5 over Omaha
Opening Night Dragon Slayer (0-0) – must be at least +7 underdog
James Madison +8.5 outright over Akron
WILL HOME-COURT MAGIC TRANSFER FROM SCHOENECKER TO LEE & PENNY ANDERSON ARENA?
St. Thomas opens its 2025-26 campaign with an 18-game home winning streak, second longest in the country, including 14-0 last season. Saint John’s leads the way with 20 straight, while right behind the Tommies is Duke (17). That’s keepin’ pretty good company.
UST’s first game in their new digs is Saturday at 7 p.m. (locally on FOX9) vs. Army, the alma mater of Lee Anderson.
TOMMIES IN THE RANKINGS
#118 NET (final 2024-25 ranking on ’25 Selection Sunday)
#124 Sports Illustrated (2025-26 preseason)
#133 Bart Torvik/T-Rank (2025-26 preseason)
#142 EvanMiya (2025-26 preseason)
#154 Haslametrics (2025-26 preseason)
#158 KenPom (2025-26 preseason)
SUMMIT (D1) NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS SINCE 2000 (bids weren’t necessarily earned as SL member)
South Dakota State (7) – 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
Oral Roberts (5) – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2021, 2023
*North Dakota State (4) – 2009, 2014, 2015, 2019
North Dakota (1) – 2017
Omaha (1) -- 2025
*Note, NDSU earned the Summit’s automatic bid in 2020, but the NCAA tourney was canceled due to the Corona
TOMS RECORD vs. SUMMIT LEAGUE OPPONENTS (38-37)
Denver (6-3)
North Dakota (6-3)
Omaha (6-3)
Kansas City (5-3)
*Western Illinois (3-2)
North Dakota State (5-4)
Oral Roberts (3-6)
South Dakota (2-6)
South Dakota State (2-7)
*no longer in Summit League
Singin' the South Dakota Blues: The Tommies have yet to defeat South Dakota State or South Dakota on the road.
SIZING UP THE 2025-26 SUMMIT
1. St. Thomas (13-3, 22-9)
2. South Dakota State (12-4, 22-9)
3. Omaha (12-4, 21-9)
4. North Dakota State (11-5, 20-11)
5. South Dakota (8-8, 17-14)
6. Denver (6-10, 11-20)
7. Kansas City (4-12, 9-22)
8. North Dakota (4-12, 10-22)
9. Oral Roberts (2-14, 6-25)
Player of the Year
Nolan Minessale, SO, St. Thomas
1st Team All-Summit
Carter Bjerke, RS-JR, St. Thomas
Isaac Bruns, JR, South Dakota
Kalen Garry, JR, South Dakota State
Ja'Sean Glover, SR, Omaha
*Markhi Strickland, SR, North Dakota State (Western Michigan)
2nd Team All-Summit
*Carson Johnson, SO, Denver (Minnesota State-Moorhead)
Eli King, SR, North Dakota
Tony Osburn, SR, Omaha
Jayson Petty, JR, Kansas City
Joe Sayler, SO, South Dakota State
Keep An Eye On
Noah Feddersen, JR, North Dakota State
Cameron Fens, SR, South Dakota
Jaden Jackson, SO, South Dakota State
*Nick Janowski, RS-FR, St. Thomas (Nebraska)
*Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, SO, St. Thomas (Miami-Florida/Iowa)
Zach Kraft, SO, North Dakota
Ryan Lafferty, SO, St. Thomas
Andy Stefonowicz, SO, North Dakota State
Kamryn Thomas, SR, Omaha
Lance Waddles, SR, Omaha
*Denotes newcomer
Newcomer of the Year: Markhi Strickland (North Dakota State)
Coach of the Year: Johnny Tauer (St. Thomas)
Game of the Year: St. Thomas @ Omaha (February 12)
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULING – SWACtion at the top; Big Ten worst among Power 5
Here’s how conferences fared (strongest to weakest) in my non-conference schedule rankings. The number in parentheses is the conference’s per-team average schedule ranking.
1 SWAC (80.75)
2 Big East (85.727)
3 Big XII (94.625)
4 ACC (95.611)
5 SEC (100.875)
6 Big Ten (106.777)
7 Southland (137.333)
8 WCC (141.416)
9 Mountain West (146.833)
10 ASUN (157.083)
11 Big Sky (169.9)
12 Missouri Valley (171.909)
13 Horizon (175.636)
14 American (178.461)
15 WAC (198.571)
16 Patriot (212)
17 OVC (213)
18 MEAC (213.75)
19 Summit (218.888)
20 NEC (219.6)
21 SoCon (227.1)
22 MAAC (232)
23 Atlantic 10 (234.214)
24 Sun Belt (239.928)
25 Big West (240)
26 MAC (240.23)
27 America East (252.444)
28 Conference USA (261)
29 Ivy (264.125)
30 Big South (283.222)
31 Coastal (291.538)
Best Schedulers in Every Conference (Michigan Leads the Way) – ranking is out of 365
#1 Michigan (Big Ten), #2 Memphis (American), #3 Santa Clara (WCC), #5 Mississippi State (SEC), #8 Alcorn State (SWAC), #9 New Orleans (Southland), #11 UNLV (Mountain West), #13 Duke (ACC), #14 Chicago State (NEC), #20 Rider (MAAC), #22 Oakland (Horizon), #23 Southeast Missouri State (OVC), #24 Marquette (Big East), #31 Texas Tech (Big XII), #35 Ohio (MAC), #36 Dayton (Atlantic 10), #45 Eastern Washington (Big Sky), #47 Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), #50 Campbell (Coastal), #67 Western Carolina (SoCon), #82 Evansville (Missouri Valley), #89 North Dakota State (Summit), #99 Colgate (Patriot), #100 Southern Utah (WAC), #109 New Hampshire (America East), #121 Princeton (Ivy), #123 Middle Tennessee (Conference USA), #141 Coppin State (MEAC), #148 Cal Poly (Big West), #151 Gardner-Webb (Big South), #164 ODU (Sun Belt)
Worst Schedulers in Every Conference (Fordham is Boredom)
#194 Kansas State (Big XII), #228 DePaul (Big East), #264 Northern Colorado (Big Sky), #267 South Carolina (SEC), #280 St. Thomas (Summit), #284 Boston College (ACC), #297 Penn State (Big Ten), #307 Abilene Christian (WAC), #311 Grambling State (SWAC), #317 Tulsa (American), #318 Loyola-Maryland (Patriot), #320 Pepperdine (WCC), #324 UC-San Diego (Big West), #327 Southern Indiana (OVC), #329 Delaware State (MEAC), #333 Stephen F. Austin (Southland), #338 Wright State (Horizon), #340 Indiana State (Missouri Valley), #343 Central Connecticut (NEC), #344 Louisiana Tech (Conference USA), #345 Air Force (Mountain West), #348 Fairfield (MAAC), #351 Austin Peay (ASUN), #355 The Citadel (SoCon), #356 Columbia (Ivy), #358 Maine (America East), #359 Charleston Southern (Big South), #361 Miami-Ohio (MAC), #362 Texas State (Sun Belt), #364 UNC-Wilmington (Coastal), #365 Fordham (Atlantic 10)
POST-CORONA (2020-21 through 2024-25) FINAL FOUR REPORT
As we head into a new season, here’s a snapshot look at the conferences and teams that have reached the Final Weekend since the "Maskccine” era:
Final Four Appearances by Conference/Team (20)
ACC (5) – Duke (2), Miami, North Carolina, NC State
Big East (3) – UConn (2), Villanova (1)
Big XII (3) – Baylor, Houston, Kansas
SEC (3) – Alabama, Auburn, Florida
American (1) – Houston
Big Ten (1) -- Purdue
Conference USA (1) -- FAU
Mountain West (1) – San Diego State
Pac 12 (1) -- UCLA
WCC (1) -- Gonzaga
National Runner-Ups (5)
ACC (1) – North Carolina
Big Ten (1) -- Purdue
Big XII (1) – Houston
Mountain West (1) – San Diego State
WCC (1) -- Gonzaga
National Champions (5)
Big East (2) – UConn (2)
Big XII (2) – Baylor, Kansas
SEC (1) – Florida
-------------------------------------------
My final preseason Field of 68 projection, with updated Bart Torvik (T-Rank) rank noted in parentheses. An * denotes the projected automatic qualifier in a multiple-bid conference.
FIELD OF 68 PROJECTION (11/3/25)
America East (1): Vermont (212)
American (2): *USF (65), Memphis (68)
ACC (5): *Duke (2), Louisville (11), North Carolina (22), NC State (38), SMU (50)
ASUN (1): Queens (252)
Atlantic 10 (2): VCU (49), *Loyola-Chicago (93)
Big East (4): *Saint John’s (7), UConn (10), Creighton (23), Marquette (54)
Big Sky (1): Idaho (186)
Big South (1): Winthrop (201)
Big Ten (11): Michigan (3), *Purdue (5), Illinois (8), UCLA (9), Ohio State (16), Michigan State (21), USC (26), Oregon (27), Wisconsin (30), Iowa (37), Nebraska (43)
Big XII (7): *Houston (1), BYU (6), Arizona (12), Iowa State (15), Kansas (18), Texas Tech (28), Baylor (35)
Big West (1): UC-Irvine (94)
Coastal (1): Towson (134)
Conference USA (1): Liberty (74)
Horizon (1): Wright State (222)
Ivy (1): Yale (95)
MAAC (1): Siena (167)
MAC (1): Miami-Ohio (108)
MEAC (1): Norfolk State (293)
Missouri Valley (1): Illinois State (99)
Mountain West (2): *Boise State (47), Utah State (62)
NEC (1): LIU (224)
OVC (1): Southeast Missouri State (168)
Patriot (1): Navy (219)
SEC (10): Florida (4), *Tennessee (13), Kentucky (14), Arkansas (17), Alabama (19), Vanderbilt (20), Missouri (25), Auburn (29), Oklahoma (31), Texas (34)
SoCon (1): East Tennessee State (193)
Southland (1): McNeese (102)
SWAC (1): Jackson State (189)
Summit (1): St. Thomas (133)
Sun Belt (1): James Madison (140)
WCC (3): *Gonzaga (24), Saint Mary’s (51), San Francisco (60)
WAC (1): Utah Valley (120)
------------------------
Last 4 In: Nebraska (43), VCU (49), SMU (50), Marquette (54)
Last 4 Automatic Qualifiers: Wright State (222), LIU (224), Queens (252), Norfolk State (293)
First 4 Out: Virginia (33), San Diego State (44), Ole Miss (45), Notre Dame (64)
A Dozen to Watch: Georgia (32), Texas A&M (36), Mississippi State (39), Cincinnati (40), Indiana (41), Maryland (42), Villanova (52), Clemson (53), Providence (57), George Washington (59), Grand Canyon (78), Saint Louis (83)
Non-Power 5 At-Large Bids (5): VCU (49), Saint Mary’s (51), San Francisco (60), Utah State (62), Memphis (68)
Multiple-Bid Conferences (9): Big Ten (11), SEC (10), Big XII (7), ACC (5), Big East (4), WCC (3), American (2), Atlantic 10 (2), Mountain West (2)
Next Field of 68 Projection: Monday, Nov. 10
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