The college basketball season is coming to a close, and it is almost tournament time. With the NCAA Tournament coming up and the conference tournaments even closer, teams will look to make their cases to get a bid to go to the big dance. Every season, there is the first four in and first four out list, that teams will try to avoid. This list puts teams on their toes and has to do with quality of wins and how they have played down the stretch of their specific conference. But as long as these teams do what they can to get in the field of 68, that’s all that matters to them. Getting a chance to upset big ranked teams and become that Cinderella story is what these teams are trying to do. Below are the first four in teams as of right now in this season
Last four In:
4. St. Bonaventure Bonnies out of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A10) 17-6 Overall 9-4 Conference: The Bonnies have had an up-and-down season but are clicking at the right time. The Bonnies were on a five game winning steak before losing to La Salle. They will look to pick up some key wins against Dayton and Saint Joseph’s. Head Coach Mark Schmidt rolls an eight man line-up but relies on three players-Jaylen Adams, Marcus Posley and Dion Wright-to do most of the scoring. When those three are all feeling their shot and doing damage scoring the basketball, the Bonnies are a hard team to beat. The Bonnies are looking to head to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012, and if they make the tournament, they are an explosive team that relies on fast breaks and a high tempo offense.
3. Butler Bulldogs out of the Big East Conference 17-8 Overall 6-7 Conference: The Bulldogs are always in contention with getting in the field of 68. Although the Bulldogs sit in the middle of the pack in the Big East, they still are a team that can heat up at any time. They have a chance to signify what’s left in the season by defeating teams such as Creighton, Villanova and Georgetown who are all atop the Big East and could persuade the committee that they deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament.
2. Cincinnati Bearcats out of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) 19-7 Overall 9-4 Conference: The Bearcats haven’t had the strongest wins but have defeated George Washington and VCU in non-conference games. In conference they have defeated Connecticut, Houston and Temple. These wins show that the Bearcats are able to compete with the best in their conference but are a streaky team this year. When the Bearcats are rolling they play great together. No one player sticks out more than any other player. The Bearcats will be one of the last four in because of their strength and size down low they have down the stretch.
1. LSU Tigers out of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) 16-9 Overall 9-3 Conference: The Tigers have been a team where they work together as a team and knock down their shots; they are a tough team to beat. With only 16 wins on the season and only six games left, the Tigers are looking to make a statement that they are going to be in the field of 68. The Tigers are atop the SEC conference and have one of the best players and freshmen in college basketball in Ben Simmons. With a big win to open up conference play against Kentucky, the Tigers have proven they can play with the best. Now, will committee think the same of them?
Jonathan Sawyer is the Sports Assignment Editor at The BV. His email is
sawyerjp15@bonaventure.edu
