Automatic qualifiers to 2023 NCAA Tournament

[Da Coach]

There have been 2 automatic qualifiers as of Saturday, March 4-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_N...tic_qualifiers

Both SEMO (Ohio Valley automatic qualifier) and Fairleigh Dickinson (Northeast Conference auto-bid) have a connection to Bradley.
Bradley beat SEMO 73-60 on Nov. 19.
https://www.espn.in/mens-college-bas...caa-berth-2000

Bradley also beat the winner of the Northeast Conference regular season, Merrimack (83-41 on Nov. 19). Merrimack is the #1 seed in the Northeast Conference Tournament, and they have advanced to the Championship game Tuesday, March 7, against Fairleigh Dickinson. However, because Merrimack is a transitional D1 program (moved from D2 to D1 in 2019), they are still in the final year of their 4-year NCAA postseason moratorium, they are not eligible to play in the NCAA or NIT Tournaments until the 2023-24 season.
Northeast Conference tournament-

https://northeastconference.org/tournaments/?id=277

So whether they win or lose, Merrimack's opponent in the Championship game Tuesday, Fairleigh Dickinson, will get the Northeast Conference's automatic bid.
Fairleigh Dickinson punches ticket to Big Dance due to quirky NCAA rule-
https://www.nj.com/setonhall/2023/03...ncaa-rule.html

NCAA Tournament bid tracker-

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-03-04/2023-ncaa-conference-tournaments-schedules-brackets-scores-auto-bids

[Mikovio]

Yea it kinda stinks that we beat a team that would be in the NCAA field if not for being ineligible.

[Tommy]

However, because Merrimack is a transitional D1 program (moved from D2 to D1 in 2019), they are still in the final year of their 4-year NCAA postseason moratorium, they are not eligible to play in the NCAA or NIT Tournaments until the 2023-24 season.

What is the point of this rule? That seems strange considering most teams making this change wouldn't even sniff a chance at the post-season. How disappointing for their players and fans.

[Da Coach]

What is the point of this rule? That seems strange considering most teams making this change wouldn't even sniff a chance at the post-season. How disappointing for their players and fans.

Yeah, it's been a rule for a number of years. It makes sense to ban teams moving down, such as moving from D1 down to D2, since many of their players were D1 caliber players. But it makes little or no sense to penalize a team moving up in divisions.

[bradleyfan124]

Yeah, it's been a rule for a number of years. It makes sense to ban teams moving down, such as moving from D1 down to D2, since many of their players were D1 caliber players. But it makes little or no sense to penalize a team moving up in divisions.

I am hoping the new Director of the NCAA will make some changes that are more reasonable. His comments lately insinuates he wants and needs to make some changes

[Da Coach]

Now 5 automatic qualifiers in the 2023 NCAA Tournament-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament#Automatic_qualifiers