Cincinnati basketball excluded from March Madness, will miss 2024 NCAA Tournament

Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer

Basketball will continue to be played this season by the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, but it won't be in the NCAA tournament.

Coach Wes Miller's team didn't hear their name called during the CBS selection show, leaving the Bearcats bound for the NIT for a second straight season. They are slated to be the top NIT automatic bid from the Big 12.

From the Big 12, Oklahoma and Kansas State were also denied as the league finished with eight bids instead of the nine most bracketologists pegged them to have.

It's been a minute

The Bearcats last made the NCAA tournament under Mick Cronin in March 2019, losing in the first round in Columbus to No. 10 Iowa 79-72 after leading by five at halftime.

Last season, UC returned to postseason play under Wes Miller, making the NIT quarterfinals with wins over Virginia Tech and Hofstra before losing at Utah Valley University. That's where the Bearcats saw 7-footer Aziz Bandaogo who would be in Cincinnati by spring, but not eligible until late November.

Cincinnati Bearcats forward Aziz Bandaogo (55) speaks with Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Wes Miller after being called for a foul in the second half of the Big 12 Conference tournament. UC played Bandaogo last season in the NIT quarterfinals when he was with Utah Valley University.
Cincinnati Bearcats forward Aziz Bandaogo (55) speaks with Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Wes Miller after being called for a foul in the second half of the Big 12 Conference tournament. UC played Bandaogo last season in the NIT quarterfinals when he was with Utah Valley University.

NIT bracketology

UC will now plan on hosting an NIT first-round game against an opponent to be named in the ESPN2 NIT selection show later Sunday at 9:30. Conceivably, they could host three more games at Fifth Third Arena as the top automatic qualifier from the Big 12. Last year, they could play just one at home due to pre-scheduled floor resurfacing that had to be completed before spring commencement.

Numerous team that will get NIT bids have better metrics than much of the NCAA field. Notable omissions are Indiana State with a No. 29 NET rating, St. John's at No. 32 and the Bearcats at No. 37

Here are schools in the tournament with a worse NET ranking than UC (many had automatic bids winning conference titles):

TCU (42), Washington State (44), Texas A&M (45), Drake (47), Grand Canyon (50), South Carolina (51), James Madison (52), Northwestern (53), Virginia (54), McNeese (56), Oregon (59), North Carolina State (63), Samford (74), Yale (81), Duquesne (83), College of Charleston (97), UAB (105), Morehead State (106), Akron (108), Colgate (125), Oakland (126), South Dakota State (135), Western Kentucky (136), Longwood (162), Long Beach State (170), Saint Peter's (159), Montana State (208), Stetson (209), Howard (273), Grambling (279) and Wagner (290).

When are NIT games?

Schedules will be finalized later Sunday but first-round games will be Tuesday and Wednesday, March 19-20. Second-round games will be Saturday or Sunday, March 23-24. Quarterfinals will be Tuesday or Wednesday, March 26-27. The NIT semifinals are at the Hinkle Fieldhouse, Butler's court in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 2. The NIT championship will be Thursday, April 4 at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati misses March Madness, excluded 2024 NCAA Tournament

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