With Championship Week upon us, most of our local schools still have at least a shot at hearing their name called on Selection Sunday. See where each team sits right now and what work they have in front of them.
It’s Championship Week, which means we’re just days from Selection Sunday. While some of our local schools are locks for at-large bids, some still have work to do, and some need to win their respective conference tournaments. Almost all still have games to play this week to help determine their postseason fortunes.
Here’s what each local squad needs to so to make the 2019 Men’s NCAA Tournament, along with their current position in our model.
Virginia — NothingCurrent position: Top overall seed
No team in the country has as many great wins with as few losses as the Cavaliers. They are, right now, the top overall seed in the tournament, and have a chance to cement that status this week with an ACC Tournament win. Even an early exit from the conference tournament likely wouldn’t damage their status as a 1 seed come Sunday.
(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
AP Photo/Steve Helber
Virginia Tech — NothingCurrent position: 5 seed
The Hokies have avoided bad losses all year, weathering the loss of star senior point guard Justin Robinson, who “started” on Senior Night for exactly one second as a purely ceremonial gesture, but is clearly not close to returning. Still, the computers put Va Tech just outside the Top 10 in the country, and the models seem to converge on the Hokies as a 5 seed heading into the ACC Tournament. They probably won’t move more than one number in either direction, barring a truly unexpected result either way.
(Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)
Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP
Maryland — NothingCurrent position: 6 seed
The other bracket prognosticators (5 seed) seem to like Maryland slightly better than our model, but the Terps are safely in and will have a chance to pad their win total against either Rutgers or Nebraska Thursday. If they move on and beat Wisconsin Friday to reach the conference semis or better, they could move up a line or two. A Big Ten Tournament championship could net them as high as a 3 seed.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
VCU — One conference tournament winCurrent position: 8 seed
The Rams probably don’t really need even one more win, but with the potential bid-stealing chaos of Championship Week in play, it would feel a lot better not to stumble on Friday of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Given that VCU will enjoy the double-bye and thrust its frantic style on a less talented team already on tired legs, this seems unlikely. The Rams do have an opportunity to move up from their current projection as a 7 or 8 seed and potentially secure better matchups for the Big Dance.
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Georgetown — Make Big East final (at least)Current position: Off the bubble
The Hoyas still may not get in without the automatic bid that comes from winning the Big East Conference Tournament. But if there’s any hope for an at large berth, Georgetown at least needs to make the final at MSG. They’ll draw bubble team Seton Hall in the quarterfinals, then likely Marquette — who they just beat in Milwaukee this weekend — in the semis. Those would be two big additions to the resume and, with enough other bubble teams flaming out, might be enough to sneak GU into the First Four.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
George Mason — Win Atlantic 10 TournamentCurrent position: Out
The Patriots came agonizingly close to securing the coveted A-10 double-bye, but will have to settle for the 5 seed in Brooklyn this year. That means they’ll draw the winner of GW and UMass Thursday, then a rested St. Bonaventure squad they split with during the regular season on Friday. Survive that, and VCU likely awaits just to reach the final, where it’s anyone’s guess who could be on the other side. It’s a long, unlikely road, but with a winning record, Mason’s likely headed to postseason play of some kind for just the second time in the last six seasons.
(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
AP Photo/Orlin Wagner
George Washington — Win Atlantic 10 TournamentCurrent position: Out
It’s been a tough season in Foggy Bottom. But if there’s any good news heading into the A-10 Tournament, at least GW draws the last team they beat, UMass, in the opening game. Win that, and their road is identical to George Mason’s above. Barring a true miracle, it’ll soon be time to look ahead to next year.
(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
AP Photo/Jessica Hill
Richmond — Win Atlantic 10 TournamentCurrent position: Out
An undersized, undermanned Spiders club has shown some good fight in games this year — pushing Georgetown in D.C. and VCU at home — but also dropping four straight and finishing 6-12 in conference. A short rotation is not exactly a recipe for success to winning five games in five days, which is the task as the 11 seed in the A-10 Tournament, but if the regular season is any indication, Richmond won’t go down easy.
(AP Photo/Stew Milne)
AP Photo/Stew Milne
Howard — Win MEAC TournamentCurrent position: Out
The Bison will not be lacking in confidence heading to Norfolk this week. Howard won its final four conference games, including a 98-95 road win at top seed Norfolk State. They’ll likely have to repeat the feat, as the Spartans lurk as a potential semifinal opponent playing a virtual home game. If the Bison can at least knock off Bethune Cookman in the quarterfinals Thursday, they’ll ensure the program’s first winning record since 2001-02 as well as its highest win total (17) since that season.
(Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images
Old Dominion — Win Conference USA TournamentCurrent position: Out
The Monarchs’ long shot at-large hopes went up in smoke with consecutive losses to end their conference season, but they still enter the C-USA tourney as the top seed. That means a bye into Thursday’s quarterfinals against the 8/9 winner, with the semis on Friday and the finals Saturday, all down in Frisco, Texas.
(AP Photo/Nick Lisi)
AP Photo/Nick Lisi
American, Navy — Out
The Midshipmen knocked out the Eagles in the Patriot League Tournament before falling to Colgate, eliminating both from NCAA consideration.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
