The Men’s NCAA Tournament is simply over the horizon and as its 32 computerized bids are earned in speedy fireplace over the subsequent week, it may be an excessive amount of to trace by yourself. That’s what this house is for. One of those 32 computerized bids from a smaller convention is more likely to change into a Cinderella, however first gaining entry into the ball is the precedence. Check out Deadspin’s 2023 NCAA Tournament’s computerized bids tracker and a quick breakdown of every auto-bid workforce as we shut in on subsequent weekend’s Selection Sunday.
1. Fairleigh Dickinson
Conference: Southeastern Conference
In simply his first season, Fairleigh Dickinson coach Tobin Anderson led his squad again from their 4-22 marketing campaign in 2022 to the No. 2 seed within the Southeastern Conference Tournament. They had been the primary computerized bid to the NCAA Tournament as a result of Merrimack, the NEC common season champs and convention championship opponent, stay ineligible for the Big Dance whereas finishing their four-year reclassification course of as they transition from Division II. This workforce makes completely no sense. Logically, they shouldn’t be right here.
Their beginning backcourt consists of 5-foot-8 Demetre Roberts and 5-foot-9 Grant Singleton and in response to OkenPom, they’re the second-shortest school basketball workforce since 2007, when the location started monitoring dimension information. Their tallest rotation gamers are 6-foot-6 and, as a workforce, they rank 331st nationally in blocks per recreation.
2. Southeast Missouri State
Conference: Ohio Valley Conference
The Redhawks marched to the Ohio Valley Conference Title Game a fifth seed, then earned their first tourney bid for the reason that 2000 season with an time beyond regulation win over Tennessee Tech. The OVC is so small, it just lately merged its soccer membership with the Big South Conference.
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Brad Korn’s Redhawks are one of many fastest-paced offenses within the nation in response to tempo, in addition to fastbreak metrics and 5-foot-10 sophomore level guard Phillip Russell is the tip of their spear. On the draw back, they’re not all that environment friendly on the offensive finish both.
3. North Carolina-Asheville
Conference: Big South Conference
Big South Player of the Year Drew Pember is a 6-foot-10 menace from wherever on the ground. UNC-Asheville defeated the Fighting Camels of Campbell in a tightly contested convention title recreation, which is an actual disgrace as a result of one other workforce named the Bulldogs goes to get misplaced in a subject of 68 and makes it more durable for novice bracketologists to make their picks based mostly on animal mascots.
4. Drake
Conference: Missouri Valley Conference
The winners of Arch Madness have a historical past of creating noise within the match, however that is solely Drake’s third NCAA Tournament look in 15 years. Two of these three have occurred within the 5 years since head coach Darian DeVries turned their sideline normal. Drake received right here on the again of a protection that ranks within the prime 25 in defensive effectivity.
Their offensive firepower derives from 6-foot-7 ahead Tucker DeVries, who bears a hanging resemblance to his head coach. Tucker isn’t beginning simply because his pops controls everybody’s scholarships although.
The aforementioned Tucker DeVries is the MVC Player of the Year and an NBA prospect who hoops like your typical coach’s son. He doesn’t waste actions or dribbles and his jumper connects with nets softly from wherever on the ground. Also, his final identify is pronounced extra like Da-Vreeze, and fewer like Devry (University), which is ideal as a result of he’s a cold-blooded shooter and the main scorer for the Bulldogs.
5. Kennesaw State
Conference: ASUN
In Sunday’s Atlantic Sun ultimate, senior guard Terrell Burden drained a free throw with 0.7 seconds left in regulation to elevate the top-seeded Owls over Liberty and have become the fifth workforce to punch their ticket for the match. This is particular for the Kennesaw State program. Not solely have the Owls by no means gone dancing into March Madness till now, however that is their first profitable season since transitioning to Division I initially of the 2009–10 marketing campaign. The Owls aren’t led by a singular expertise, however head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, 41, has a well-recognized identify. His brother Shareef Abdur-Rahim was one of many best prep basketball gamers to ever rise out of the state of Georgia. Amir took over a Kennesaw State program in shambles, misplaced 28 video games throughout his first season, and has created a brand new tradition.