(Editor’s note: This article is part of the Bracket Central series, an inside look at the run-up to the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments, along with analysis and picks during the tournaments.)
As we enter the final week and change leading up to Selection Sunday, I want to take a moment to highlight some teams that have flown under the radar. A multitude of programs have had special seasons to varying degrees, but particularly in the mid-majors, quite a few teams are putting together landmark seasons. While they may not wind up in the Big Dance, they’re fighting for the chance to play their way in, and could crash the party.
Montana State
The Bobcats are 27-3, outright Big Sky champs, and are enjoying the most successful season of Tricia Binford’s 20 year career in Bozeman, Mont., and program history as a whole. Sporting the 16th stingiest defense in the country, per CBB Analytics, the Bobcats are in prime position to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022 after signature wins over Northern Arizona, Florida Gulf Coast, Troy and Eastern Carolina.
Purdue-Fort Wayne
The Mastodons have been a D1 school since only 2002 and didn’t have their first winning season until 2011. Maria Marchesano has secured a second straight 20-win season in Fort Wayne,…
