March Madness: 289 Teams Still Alive

Nearly 300 teams remain alive for 68 NCAA tournament spots.

We wrote that South Carolina Upstate’s Ty Greene might eliminate Florida Gulf Coast and Thursday he did. Saturday, Value Add star Cam Griffin of Denver has the chance to do the same to North Dakota State for chance to advance in front of 10,000 plus is Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Both are part of the 289 teams still alive for March Madness (see list below).

If Bobby Knight had his way and all teams went to the NCAA, Denver would project to play SIU Edwardsville in a near empty arena somewhere. Instead, Griffin tries to get revenge for himself for being left off the All-Summit League team and for Denver after two overtime losses to North Dakota State Saturday in a natural rivalry.

Giffin is one of the best in the country at drawing fouls, shooting percentage, steals and rebounds – putting him in the top 10% of all players at www.valueaddbasketball.com. Still, Griffin did not even get an Honorable Mention on the All-Summit team in a season dominated by players from three Dakota schools.

In the last match-up against North Dakota State, Griffin took only nine shots and yet scored 15 points, adding 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals. Last year, Giffin and Denver did beat North Dakota State once, but then lost to them in the Summit League tournament, and North Dakota State then advanced to shock Oklahoma in the NCAA tournament.

Despite the appeal of a Hoosiers-like tournament of all teams as advocated by Knight, the fact is the travel involved in matching teams across the country with no logical rivalry would result in boring early round match-ups.

There truly already is a national tournament – the opening rounds are simply the conference tournaments going on right now – and after a few days there are 289 teams still alive. They can keep playing as long as they win in their conference tournament – or in the case of the Ivy League, by Yale or Harvard claiming the regular season conference title.

The Summit League is a perfect example, likely packing in 10,000 fans into Sioux Falls an environment much better than the first round of games such as we would be treated to if the 281st seed faces the 231st seed in a game like Denver vs. SIU Edwardsville.

Keep the system how it is now – giving every team not on probation a chance to play as long as they keep winning – first in their conference tournament and then in the NCAA.

The 289 teams that have not been eliminated through Thursday’s games are listed below alphabetically. Their ranking is listed based on their projected RPI at Forecast RPI, so a team in the Top 50 likely makes the NCAA tournament even if eliminated from their conference tournaments. For other teams, it is do-or-die.

The best team eliminated so far is Syracuse (#64) who volunteered a probation. The best team eliminated on the court of play has been Florida Gulf Coast (#131) with the loss in the ASun tournament. Rankings are based on where the team is projected to finish the season at RPI Forecast.

Air Force ranked 255 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Akron ranked 139 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Alabama ranked 87 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Alabama A&M ranked 331 (SWAC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Albany ranked 111 plays March 8 (AE Tourney March 4 – 14)
Alcorn St. ranked 348 (SWAC Tourney March 10 – 14)
American ranked 161 plays March 8 (Pat Tourney March 3 – 11)
Arizona ranked 7 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Arizona St. ranked 95 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Arkansas ranked 19 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Arkansas Little Rock ranked 261 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Arkansas Pine Bluff ranked 307 (SWAC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Arkansas St. ranked 268 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Auburn ranked 167 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Ball St. ranked 275 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Baylor ranked 9 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Belmont ranked 143 plays March 6 (OVC Tourney March 4 – 7)
Bethune Cookman ranked 341 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
Boise St. ranked 36 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Boston College ranked 168 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Bowling Green ranked 91 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Bradley ranked 295 plays March 5 (MVC Tourney March 5 – 8)
Bryant ranked 187 plays March 7 (NEC Tourney March 5 – 11)
Bucknell ranked 132 plays March 8 (Pat Tourney March 3 – 11)
Buffalo ranked 33 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Butler ranked 25 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
BYU ranked 38 plays March 7 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
Cal Poly ranked 188 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
Cal St. Bakersfield ranked 297 (WAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Cal St. Fullerton ranked 310 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
Cal St. Northridge ranked 283 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
California ranked 99 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Canisius ranked 171 plays March 7 (MAAC Tourney March 5 – 9)
Central Michigan ranked 71 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Charleston Southern ranked 140 plays March 6 (BSth Tourney March 4 – 8)
Charlotte ranked 195 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Chattanooga ranked 101 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
Chicago St. ranked 333 (WAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Cincinnati ranked 35 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
Clemson ranked 94 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Cleveland St. ranked 128 plays March 6 (Horz Tourney March 3 – 10)
Coastal Carolina ranked 150 plays March 6 (BSth Tourney March 4 – 8)
Colgate ranked 183 plays March 8 (Pat Tourney March 3 – 11)
College of Charleston ranked 301 plays March 6 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Colorado ranked 119 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Colorado St. ranked 27 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Connecticut ranked 69 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
Coppin St. ranked 313 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
Creighton ranked 136 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Davidson ranked 34 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Dayton ranked 28 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Delaware ranked 254 plays March 7 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Delaware St. ranked 229 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
Denver ranked 235 (Sum Tourney March 7 – 10)
DePaul ranked 175 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Detroit ranked 201 plays March 6 (Horz Tourney March 3 – 10)
Drexel ranked 234 plays March 6 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Duke ranked 5 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Duquesne ranked 223 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
East Carolina ranked 222 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
East Tennessee St. ranked 186 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
Eastern Kentucky ranked 148 plays March 6 (OVC Tourney March 4 – 7)
Eastern Michigan ranked 162 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Eastern Washington ranked 93 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Elon ranked 263 plays March 6 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Evansville ranked 105 plays March 6 (MVC Tourney March 5 – 8)
FIU ranked 247 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Florida ranked 76 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Florida Atlantic ranked 306 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Florida St. ranked 122 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Fordham ranked 242 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Fresno St. ranked 185 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Furman ranked 326 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
Gardner Webb ranked 157 plays March 6 (BSth Tourney March 4 – 8)
George Mason ranked 214 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
George Washington ranked 84 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Georgetown ranked 22 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Georgia ranked 39 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Georgia Southern ranked 121 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Georgia St. ranked 74 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Georgia Tech ranked 129 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Gonzaga ranked 8 plays March 7 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
Grambling St. ranked 351 (SWAC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Green Bay ranked 61 plays March 7 (Horz Tourney March 3 – 10)
Hampton ranked 284 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
Harvard ranked 56 plays March 6 (Ivy League Reg Season March 7)
Hawaii ranked 176 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
High Point ranked 81 plays March 6 (BSth Tourney March 4 – 8)
Hofstra ranked 182 plays March 7 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Houston ranked 258 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
Howard ranked 250 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
Idaho ranked 233 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Idaho St. ranked 346 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Illinois ranked 59 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Illinois Chicago ranked 304 plays March 6 (Horz Tourney March 3 – 10)
Illinois St. ranked 78 plays March 6 (MVC Tourney March 5 – 8)
Indiana ranked 57 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Indiana St. ranked 179 plays March 6 (MVC Tourney March 5 – 8)
Iona ranked 51 plays March 7 (MAAC Tourney March 5 – 9)
Iowa ranked 40 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Iowa St. ranked 15 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
IPFW ranked 211 (Sum Tourney March 7 – 10)
IUPUI ranked 253 (Sum Tourney March 7 – 10)
Jackson St. ranked 312 (SWAC Tourney March 10 – 14)
James Madison ranked 138 plays March 7 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Kansas ranked 2 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Kansas St. ranked 80 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Kent St. ranked 90 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Kentucky ranked 1 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
La Salle ranked 109 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Lafayette ranked 147 plays March 8 (Pat Tourney March 3 – 11)
Long Beach St. ranked 107 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
Louisiana Lafayette ranked 153 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Louisiana Monroe ranked 130 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Louisiana Tech ranked 55 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Louisville ranked 20 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Loyola Chicago ranked 127 plays March 6 (MVC Tourney March 5 – 8)
Loyola Marymount ranked 246 plays March 6 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
LSU ranked 53 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Manhattan ranked 193 plays March 7 (MAAC Tourney March 5 – 9)
Marist ranked 328 plays March 7 (MAAC Tourney March 5 – 9)
Marquette ranked 163 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Marshall ranked 290 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Maryland ranked 10 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Maryland Eastern Shore ranked 190 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
Massachusetts ranked 72 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
McNeese St. ranked 279 (Slnd Tourney March 11 – 14)
Memphis ranked 85 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
Mercer ranked 202 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
Miami FL ranked 68 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Miami OH ranked 221 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Michigan ranked 88 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Michigan St. ranked 29 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Middle Tennessee ranked 180 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Minnesota ranked 82 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Mississippi ranked 47 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Mississippi St. ranked 208 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Mississippi Valley St. ranked 343 (SWAC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Missouri ranked 205 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Monmouth ranked 194 plays March 7 (MAAC Tourney March 5 – 9)
Montana ranked 151 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Montana St. ranked 323 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Morehead St. ranked 213 plays March 6 (OVC Tourney March 4 – 7)
Morgan St. ranked 336 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
Murray St. ranked 66 plays March 6 (OVC Tourney March 4 – 7)
Nebraska ranked 124 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Nevada ranked 300 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
New Hampshire ranked 196 plays March 8 (AE Tourney March 4 – 14)
New Mexico ranked 160 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
New Mexico St. ranked 113 (WAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
New Orleans ranked 329 (Slnd Tourney March 11 – 14)
Nicholls St. ranked 325 (Slnd Tourney March 11 – 14)
Norfolk St. ranked 165 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
North Carolina ranked 13 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
North Carolina A&T ranked 337 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
North Carolina Central ranked 106 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
North Carolina St. ranked 46 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
North Dakota ranked 305 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
North Dakota St. ranked 120 (Sum Tourney March 7 – 10)
North Florida ranked 173 plays March 8 (ASun Tourney March 3 – 8)
North Texas ranked 209 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Northeastern ranked 98 plays March 7 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Northern Arizona ranked 181 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Northern Colorado ranked 244 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Northern Illinois ranked 192 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Northern Iowa ranked 14 plays March 6 (MVC Tourney March 5 – 8)
Northwestern ranked 112 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Northwestern St. ranked 169 (Slnd Tourney March 11 – 14)
Notre Dame ranked 24 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Oakland ranked 134 plays March 6 (Horz Tourney March 3 – 10)
Ohio ranked 237 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Ohio St. ranked 31 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Oklahoma ranked 17 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Oklahoma St. ranked 37 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Old Dominion ranked 44 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Oral Roberts ranked 154 (Sum Tourney March 7 – 10)
Oregon ranked 30 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Oregon St. ranked 114 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Pacific ranked 232 plays March 6 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
Penn St. ranked 133 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Pepperdine ranked 146 plays March 7 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
Pittsburgh ranked 63 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Portland ranked 152 plays March 7 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
Portland St. ranked 227 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Prairie View A&M ranked 259 (SWAC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Presbyterian ranked 316 plays March 6 (BSth Tourney March 4 – 8)
Providence ranked 21 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Purdue ranked 62 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Radford ranked 137 plays March 6 (BSth Tourney March 4 – 8)
Rhode Island ranked 70 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Rice ranked 271 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Richmond ranked 58 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Rider ranked 135 plays March 7 (MAAC Tourney March 5 – 9)
Robert Morris ranked 191 plays March 7 (NEC Tourney March 5 – 11)
Rutgers ranked 172 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Sacramento St. ranked 125 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
Saint Joseph’s ranked 174 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Saint Louis ranked 260 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Saint Mary’s ranked 60 plays March 7 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
Saint Peter’s ranked 249 plays March 7 (MAAC Tourney March 5 – 9)
Sam Houston St. ranked 89 (Slnd Tourney March 11 – 14)
Samford ranked 294 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
San Diego ranked 144 plays March 7 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
San Diego St. ranked 26 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
San Francisco ranked 198 plays March 6 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
Santa Clara ranked 203 plays March 6 (WCC Tourney March 5 – 10)
Savannah St. ranked 324 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
Seattle ranked 287 (WAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Seton Hall ranked 79 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Siena ranked 270 plays March 7 (MAAC Tourney March 5 – 9)
SMU ranked 16 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
South Alabama ranked 291 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
South Carolina ranked 96 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
South Carolina St. ranked 320 (MEAC Tourney March 9 – 14)
South Dakota ranked 216 (Sum Tourney March 7 – 10)
South Dakota St. ranked 86 (Sum Tourney March 7 – 10)
South Florida ranked 264 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
Southeastern Louisiana ranked 314 (Slnd Tourney March 11 – 14)
Southern Illinois ranked 286 plays March 6 (MVC Tourney March 5 – 8)
Southern Miss ranked 285 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Southern Utah ranked 303 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
St. Bonaventure ranked 118 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
St. Francis NY ranked 156 plays March 7 (NEC Tourney March 5 – 11)
St. Francis PA ranked 184 plays March 7 (NEC Tourney March 5 – 11)
St. John’s ranked 32 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Stanford ranked 54 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Stephen F. Austin ranked 48 (Slnd Tourney March 11 – 14)
Stony Brook ranked 110 plays March 8 (AE Tourney March 4 – 14)
TCU ranked 123 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Temple ranked 45 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
Tennessee ranked 97 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Texas ranked 42 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Texas A&M ranked 50 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
Texas A&M Corpus Chris ranked 215 (Slnd Tourney March 11 – 14)
Texas Pan American ranked 334 (WAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Texas Southern ranked 142 (SWAC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Texas St. ranked 226 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Texas Tech ranked 178 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
The Citadel ranked 321 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
Toledo ranked 75 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Towson ranked 277 plays March 6 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Troy ranked 309 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Tulane ranked 207 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
Tulsa ranked 41 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
UAB ranked 149 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
UC Davis ranked 73 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
UC Irvine ranked 104 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
UC Riverside ranked 220 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
UC Santa Barbara ranked 83 (BW Tourney March 12 – 14)
UCF ranked 241 (Amer Tourney March 12 – 15)
UCLA ranked 52 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
UMKC ranked 278 (WAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
UNC Asheville ranked 248 plays March 6 (BSth Tourney March 4 – 8)
UNC Greensboro ranked 317 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
UNC Wilmington ranked 141 plays March 7 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
UNLV ranked 102 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
USC ranked 210 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
USC Upstate ranked 225 plays March 8 (ASun Tourney March 3 – 8)
UT Arlington ranked 159 (SB Tourney March 12 – 15)
Utah ranked 12 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Utah St. ranked 126 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Utah Valley ranked 308 (WAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
UTEP ranked 77 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
UTSA ranked 224 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Valparaiso ranked 65 plays March 7 (Horz Tourney March 3 – 10)
Vanderbilt ranked 103 (SEC Tourney March 11 – 15)
VCU ranked 18 (A10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Vermont ranked 197 plays March 8 (AE Tourney March 4 – 14)
Villanova ranked 4 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Virginia ranked 3 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Virginia Tech ranked 230 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
VMI ranked 282 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
Wake Forest ranked 117 (ACC Tourney March 10 – 14)
Washington ranked 116 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Washington St. ranked 155 (P12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Weber St. ranked 265 (BSky Tourney March 12 – 14)
West Virginia ranked 23 (B12 Tourney March 11 – 14)
Western Carolina ranked 238 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
Western Illinois ranked 330 (Sum Tourney March 7 – 10)
Western Kentucky ranked 108 (CUSA Tourney March 11 – 14)
Western Michigan ranked 115 (MAC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Wichita St. ranked 11 plays March 6 (MVC Tourney March 5 – 8)
William & Mary ranked 100 plays March 7 (CAA Tourney March 6 – 9)
Winthrop ranked 219 plays March 6 (BSth Tourney March 4 – 8)
Wisconsin ranked 6 (B10 Tourney March 11 – 15)
Wofford ranked 49 (SC Tourney March 6 – 9)
Wyoming ranked 92 (MWC Tourney March 11 – 14)
Xavier ranked 43 (BE Tourney March 11 – 14)
Yale ranked 67 plays March 6 (Ivy League Reg Season March 7)