The Washington State women’s basketball team is coming off a historic season where it made an NCAA tournament appearance for the first time since 1991. The Cougs have returned most of that roster, and expectations are high for another trip to the postseason. In the Pac-12’s preseason media poll, Wazzu was picked 6th.
How often does the 6th-place team in the Pac-12 make the NCAA tournament? In the last 10 years, it has 10 tournaments, it has happened just twice. Oregon State would have almost certainly been given an at-large bid in 2020. Even adding that, it’s surprising to see that 6th-place isn’t more often good enough for the tourney in a traditionally strong league.