For a few unlucky teams each March, Selection Sunday becomes Rejection Sunday. They gather to watch the unveiling of the NCAA men's tournament bracket together only to endure the heartache of Greg Gumbel not calling their name.
This year, there were bubble teams of every flavor waiting to learn their fate. Some surged into NCAA tournament contention in March. Others sputtered into Selection Sunday leaking oil and missing parts. Some were barely over .500 but played a rugged schedule. Others had sparkling records but few quality wins to show for it.
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The NCAA tournament selection committee ultimately awarded this year’s last at-large bids to a trio of middling power-conference squads and a Mountain West team that dropped its last three games entering Selection Sunday.