The case for Monmouth – and its bench – to make the NCAA tournament
The Monmouth bench mob may be sidelined for the NCAA tournament.
The Hawks fell, 79-76 to Iona in a thriller Monday night in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship. They still have a shot at an at-large bid, but it will be an uphill battle. Some sleepless nights lie ahead.
Here's the case for Monmouth:
► 2-1 vs. the RPI Top 50 (wins against Notre Dame and USC)
► Wins at UCLA and Georgetown
► Regular-season conference champions
► An RPI of 47
Here's the case against Monmouth:
► Three losses outside the RPI Top 200 (Army, Canisius, Manhattan)
Yes, those three Ls exist. But a MAAC team cannot do more in the nonconference than Monmouth did this year.
Instead of a mediocre power-conference team slipping through the bubble, put Monmouth in. Give the mid-majors a shot to be Cinderella. We need the Hawks.
NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS: AUTO BIDS