These groups aren’t going wherever however the NIT (perhaps) in the event that they get upset over the following 11 days. Nonetheless, they’ve established themselves as the highest canine of their respective leagues and are on observe to scare the hell out of a single-digit seed on the NCAA match’s opening weekend.
1. Yale (Ivy League)
Do you know that the Ivy League is nearly .500 within the final 5 NCAA tournaments? As a result of the Ivy League is nearly .500 within the final 5 NCAA tournaments.
Yale knocked off Auburn final March, and upset that got here only a yr after Princeton made a Cinderella run to the Candy 16.
The Bulldogs have dominated the remainder of the Ivies up to now this season (12-1) and are absolutely able to having one other magical March second (or two) in a few weeks.
2. Akron (Mid-American)
Sometimes one of many extra balanced conferences within the sport, the MAC has been dominated by the Zips this season. Akron is 16-1 in league play heading into their common season finale, with their lone loss approaching the highway in opposition to Ohio.
They nonetheless must win the MAC match to go dancing, however it is a staff with greater than sufficient offensive firepower to knock off a 4 or 5 seed within the first spherical.
3. Excessive Level (Huge South)
The Panthers have a glowing 26-5 general report and completed the common season three video games away from each Winthrop and UNC Asheville.
4. McNeese (Southland)
You recognize about Will Wade. You recognize concerning the gaudy report (25-6, 19-1).
However let’s get to the true star of the present right here …
His staff has to deal with enterprise within the Southland tourney, however this man was constructed for March Insanity.
5. Towson (Coastal Athletic Affiliation)
Towson might have been the worst program in Division-I when Pat Skerry took over in 2011-12. In his first season on the job, the Tigers began 0-22 and completed 1-31. Final week they wrapped up their first outright common season convention championship beneath Skerry’s watch. Subsequent up is making an attempt to make the NCAA match for the primary time since 1991.
6. Chattanooga (Southern)
The Mocs have been the category of the SoCon all season, claiming the common season title by two video games. That’s particularly vital in a convention the place the No. 1 seed has gained the league match a whopping seven years in a row. The following longest streak in Division-I is three.
7. Omaha (Summit League)
In case you haven’t heard concerning the Mavericks, now could be the time to familiarize your self.
Omaha was picked to complete eighth within the Summit League earlier than the beginning of the season, however wound up successful the league’s common season title by a sport over St. Thomas.
That’s not the wild a part of Omaha’s story, although. The wild half is the custom the Mavericks created of beating absolutely the hell out of a garbage can of their locker room following wins.
In case you’re questioning what that appears like, it’s just about identical to it sounds.
Omaha getting picked eighth then successful the Summit League title whereas having this ridiculous, absurd, unimaginable custom of beating the hell out of a trash can is every part that makes this ridiculous sport wonderful. pic.twitter.com/WvLVxXddB8
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) March 2, 2025
Best sport on the planet.
8. Southern (SWAC)
There’s nonetheless per week left within the SWAC’s common season, however the Jaguars have already locked up a share of the league’s common season title, and are a close to lock to win it outright. They’ve misplaced simply twice because the calendar flipped to 2025.