Going Dancing: Breaking Down NCAA Tournament Auto Bids
If you missed the first installment of our series, it can be found here. Today we take a look at the four teams that have clinched NCAA Tournament bids since the weekend. The Patriot League, Horizon League, Summit League, Northeast Conference, and West Coast Conference have all named champs this week. We'll skip the WCC because Gonzaga was covered as part of our top 25 breakdown last week. As for the other four, let's dive right in.
Valparaiso Crusaders (28-6)- Horizon League Champs. Locked up their bid by beating UW Green Bay on Tuesday 54-44. It's their 2nd tourney appearance in the last 4 years.
Head Coach: Bryce Drew (4th season). You may remember Drew's name from the NCAA Tournament. He was the guy that did this:
[youtube:"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFGLY90-gZ8"]
Recent NCAA Tournament History: Aside from that 1998 highlight, the Crusaders last reached the tourney in 2013 and lost 65-54 to Michigan State in the 1st round. They've made 8 appearances in the Big Dance and are 2-8 all-time.
Best Player: Alec Peters 6'9" So. Forward- Peters is leading the team in scoring at 16.7 PPG and averages 6.8 RPG as well. He's a prolific shooter from deep hitting 46% of his threes on the season. He was named the Horizon League tournament MVP.
Key Stats: Their defense is 19th in the country as the allow only 59.3 PPG. They outscore opponents by an average of 10.5 PPG which is 22nd in the nation in margin of victory. They can be dangerous as a 12 or 13 seed to one of the weaker 4 or 5 teams.
Biggest Win(s): 93-58 over Murray State on November 29th. You're not reading that score wrong. I know it took me a second too when I first saw it. Yes they beat the Racers by 30 plus points. Granted it was in November and Murray State had some injured guys, but still an impressive victory.
Robert Morris Colonials (19-14)-Northeast Conference Champions. Beat St. Francis (NY) 66-63. The Colonials are headed for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010, and the 7th time overall in the history of the program.
Head Coach: Andy Toole (5th season)
Recent NCAA Tournament History: L 73-70 to Villanova in 2010 as a 15 seed. They kept it close with the Wildcats and nearly pulled off the upset. Robert Morris is probably more known for what they did to Kentucky in the NIT a couple years ago beating the Wildcats 59-57 in the first round.
Best Player: Rodney Pryor 6'5" Jr. Guard- Pryor is the engine that makes this team run averaging 15.2 PPG 4.7 RPG 1.8 APG and 1.2 SPG this season. He's one of three players averaging double figures on the team along with Marcquise Reed and Lucky Jones. Yes it's important that they have three guys averaging 10+ points a night but more importantly, the dude's name is Lucky. That's gotta be some kind of sign right?
Key Stats: The Colonials average 8.5 steals per game which is 14th in Division I. They can put a lot of pressure on teams. They're not big, but they use a primarily three guard line-up of quick feisty guys that can get up into people on the defensive side.
Biggest Win(s): Their biggest win is their last one, in the conference title game. Without it we're not talking about the Colonials in the postseason.
Lafayette Leopards (20-12)- Patriot League Champions. The Leopards beat American last night in the Patriot League final 65-63.
Head Coach: Fran O'Hanlon (20th season)
Recent NCAA Tournament History: This is Lafayette's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2000 and only their 4th overall in the history of the program. In 2000, they lost to Temple 73-47 in the 1st round.
Best Player: Dan Trist 6'9" Sr. Forward- Trist is a big time presence on the inside for the Leopards, a true low post player. He averages 17.6 PPG and 6.6 RPG.
Key Stats: The Leopards can score the basketball, putting up 74.5 PPG this season good for 31st in DI (one spot behind Kentucky's offense. Doesn't mean anything just an interesting fact). The defense is what lets them down as they allow opponents 72.7 PPG,
Biggest Win(s): Just like the Colonials and most of the teams from one-bid leagues, the Leopards biggest win came in the conference championship game, 65-63 over the American Eagles.
North Dakota State Bison (23-9)- Summit League Champions. The Bison won the border war with South Dakota State 57-56 to advance to the tourney for the 2nd consecutive year.
Head Coach: David Richman (1st season). Richman took over for Saul Phillips after Phillips was hired by Ohio University following last year's tournament run.
Recent NCAA Tournament History: The Bison were one of the upset darlings of March Madness last year picking up the 80-75 win over Oklahoma, before falling 63-44 to San Diego State in the 2nd round. (I refuse to call it the 3rd round, you can't make me count play-in games). Other than last year the Bison had only appeared in the tournament one other time in 2009 when they lost to Kansas 84-74 in the 1st round.
Best Player: Lawrence Alexander 6'3" Sr. Guard- Alexander was on last year's team that pulled off that upset over Oklahoma and was the fourth leading scorer on that team. This year he's averaging just under 19 PPG at 18.9, while shooting a very hot 44% from downtown. He's made over 200 threes in his career and is the type of senior scorer that could put the team on his back for one game in the opening round to pull off the big upset.
Key Stats: Shooting 38% from deep as a team, but their top 2 guys in Alexander and AJ Jacobson are both over 40% from long distance.
Biggest Win(s): Unsurprisingly, it's the win over the Jackrabbits (awesome nickname) that is the Bison's biggest win this season. Without it, we're not talking about them in the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd straight year.
That's 9 of the 11 teams that have locked up automatic bids (excluding Gonzaga and Northern Iowa) that you should know more about. With the conference tournaments in full swing we'll get to see the full March Madness begin over the next four days leading up to the Selection Show at 6 pm ET.
Ryan Mayer is an Associate Producer for CBS Local Sports. Ryan lives in NY but comes from Philly and life as a Philly sports fan has made him cynical. Anywhere sports are being discussed, that's where you'll find him.