Long Island University was the first team to clinch a spot in the annual tournament. The Sharks did so by defeating Wagner in the NEC Tournament Semifinals. This was because their opponent in the championship game, Mercyhurst, is ineligible to compete in the NCAA Tournament. The Sharks earned their first spot in March Madness since combining their two campuses' athletic programs (Brooklyn and Post).
Oscar Cluff scored 21 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn had 20 and No. 18 Purdue topped No. 3 Michigan 80-72 on Sunday for the Big Ten tournament championship. Braden Smith had 14 points, 11 assists and three steals as Purdue (27-8) added to an impressive turnaround after closing the regular season with four losses in six games.
Charleston (SC) averages 74.5 points per game (44th in college basketball) while giving up 58.1 per outing (33rd in college basketball). It has a +509 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 16.4 points per game. Barbot leads the Cougars, putting up 19.5 points per game (24th in the country).
UConn has been a dominant force in the Big East this season, combining high-powered scoring with stifling defense. Their depth allows them to play at a fast pace, putting pressure on opponents while maintaining efficiency on both ends of the floor, and they'll look to carry that momentum into the championship matchup.
Duke outscores opponents by 19.6 points per game (scoring 82.5 per game to rank 47th in college basketball while allowing 62.9 per contest to rank third in college basketball) and has a +647 scoring differential overall.
In his game against Kansas State, he dropped 40 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals, the most points ever scored by a freshman in Big 12 Tournament history. Despite losing to the second-best team in the Big 12, his run was legendary. It literally set a Big 12 Tournament record, and he won't even be playing the final two days.
To be blunt, this season fell well short of our expectations. Our level of investment in this year's team was sufficient enough for us to reach the NCAA Tournament at a minimum. Simply fighting to qualify for the ACC Tournament is not good enough.
The agreement comes as Schertz was considered one of the most likely mid-major candidates to draw interest from power conference schools. But May confirmed the new deal before Saint Louis' Atlantic 10 quarterfinal against George Washington.