Lead
In the final days before Selection Sunday, conference tournaments decided 31 of the 68 berths in the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament. Furman and Troy were among the recent automatic-bid winners, with the Paladins and Trojans clinching conference crowns on March 9–11 in their respective leagues. Several other midmajors — including North Dakota State, Queens, High Point and Northern Iowa — also secured tickets to the Big Dance, while LIU advanced because Mercyhurst is ineligible during its Division I transition. These results will shape seeding scenarios and add volatility to bracket projections heading into Selection Sunday.
Key takeaways
- Furman (22–12, 10–8 SoCon) won the Southern Conference tournament as a 6-seed, beating East Tennessee State 76–61 in the final to clinch an NCAA bid; last NCAA appearance: 2023; all-time tourney record: 2–8.
- Troy (22–11, 12–6 Sun Belt) captured the Sun Belt title, defeating Georgia Southern 77–61; the Trojans are back for a second straight NCAA Tournament after a 2025 appearance and have an all-time tournament record of 0–3.
- North Dakota State set a school record with 27 wins (27–7, 14–2 Summit) and clinched the Summit League by beating North Dakota 70–62; currently projected as a 14 seed and historically a 14-over-3 upset occurs roughly 14% of the time.
- Queens (21–13, 13–5 ASUN) earned its first NCAA bid after a 98–93 overtime win over Central Arkansas; Central Arkansas’ Camren Hunter scored a program-record 46 points in that game.
- High Point (30–4, 15–1 Big South) repeated as Big South champion with a 91–76 win over Winthrop, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season under first-year coach Flynn Clayman.
- Northern Iowa (23–12, 11–9 MVC) seized the Missouri Valley auto-bid after a strong tournament run capped by an 84–69 victory over UIC; coach Ben Jacobsen is heading to his fifth NCAA Tournament with UNI.
- Tennessee State (23–9, 15–5 OVC) returns to March Madness for the first time since 1994 after a 93–67 win over Morehead State, a notable achievement in Nolan Smith’s first season as head coach.
- LIU (23–10, 15–3 NEC) clinched the NEC’s automatic bid because Mercyhurst (17–16) is ineligible during its Division I transition; LIU is projected as a No. 16 seed.
Background
Conference tournaments in mid-March compress the season’s stakes into a handful of win-or-go-home games. Every league champion earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament regardless of regular-season résumé, which often produces dramatic outcomes and invites upsets. In 2026, 31 automatic bids will be determined by conference tournaments, with the remaining 37 slots filled by the NCAA selection committee on Selection Sunday.
Midmajor leagues routinely supply headline stories during championship week because many of their best teams would not make the field without an auto-bid. That dynamic elevates pressure on coaches, players and athletic departments and increases the value of experienced coaching, roster depth and late-season momentum. Recent seasons have also shown how the transfer portal and one-off hot streaks can reshape which programs emerge as conference champions.
Main event
Furman’s run through the Southern Conference tournament was notable for its seeding and scope: the Paladins entered as a 6-seed and knocked off 1-seed East Tennessee State and 3-seed Samford en route to the title. Furman’s 76–61 win over ETSU in the final secured its second March Madness appearance under coach Bob Richey; the program’s most recent tournament entry came in 2023, when Furman upset Virginia.
Troy, the Sun Belt regular-season champion and top seed, advanced through the league’s stepladder bracket and slowed the Cinderella run of 10-seed Georgia Southern in the title game, winning 77–61. The Trojans, led by Thomas Dowd and Victor Valdes, will make consecutive NCAA appearances after losing to Kentucky in the first round last year. The roster features family connections — multiple Campbells and the coach’s son on the bench — which has been a storyline through the season.
North Dakota State’s 70–62 win over North Dakota clinched the Summit League bid and set a school record for wins at 27. The Bison have six players averaging at least 9.2 points, a distribution that creates matchup problems for higher seeds. Coach David Richman earned his second Summit League coach of the year award this season, and the team’s balance has pushed some bracketologists to project them as a 14 seed.
Other conference finals produced memorable moments: Queens prevailed 98–93 in overtime over Central Arkansas in the ASUN after Central Arkansas’ Camren Hunter scored 46 points; High Point defeated Winthrop 91–76 to reach the NCAA Tournament again; Northern Iowa shot 63 percent in the MVC title game to beat UIC 84–69; Tennessee State routed Morehead State 93–67 to break a 32-year NCAA drought for the program; and LIU clinched the NEC bid in large part because Mercyhurst is ineligible during its Division I transition.
Analysis & implications
Automatic bids from midmajor conferences increase the field’s unpredictability. Teams like North Dakota State and Furman present contrasting challenges for potential high seeds: Furman’s experience and recent upset pedigree make them a dangerous lower seed, while North Dakota State’s balanced attack can exploit single-game variability. Those differences affect both scouting and seeding decisions for the selection committee.
Coaching narratives will influence offseason moves and market value. David Richman’s record-setting year at NDSU and Nolan Smith’s immediate turnaround at Tennessee State will attract attention from programs seeking proven midmajor builders. Such coaching success often prompts larger programs to consider hires, which can trigger staff turnover and recruiting ripple effects in the months after the tournament.
The transfer portal’s role in reshaping rosters is evident in High Point’s performance: Flynn Clayman rebuilt the team in his first year, turning a unit that lost top scorers into a 30-win conference champion. That model — heavy portal use plus quick chemistry building — is increasingly common and alters how athletic directors evaluate short-term versus long-term program health.
Comparison & data
| Team | Record | Conference | Last NCAA appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furman | 22–12 | Southern (SoCon) | 2023 |
| Troy | 22–11 | Sun Belt | 2025 |
| North Dakota State | 27–7 | Summit | 2019 |
| Queens | 21–13 | ASUN | Never |
| High Point | 30–4 | Big South | 2025 |
The table above highlights recent auto-bid winners, their season records and the conferences they represent. School records and last appearance years help illustrate which programs are re-establishing postseason traditions and which are new arrivals. For selection and matchup purposes, metrics such as strength of schedule, nonconference wins and efficiency margins will determine seed lines more than conference titles alone.
Reactions & quotes
Public reaction to dramatic finishes is already circulating on social platforms and among broadcast crews, emphasizing how single moments define tournament lore.
“DID WE JUST SEE WHAT WE THINK WE JUST SAW?!”
CBS Sports (tweet)
The exclamation above captures the stunned reaction to Furman’s 2023 upset of Virginia, a moment still cited in coverage of Furman’s program progress. Fans and local media also leaned into school-specific chants and branding following conference-clinching wins.
“Fins up!”
LIU fans/team
That slogan has appeared in LIU coverage and on social channels as the program celebrates its return to the NEC auto-bid picture and an NCAA berth projection.
Unconfirmed
- Seeding projections cited (for example, North Dakota State as a projected 14 seed) are based on current bracket projections and can change before Selection Sunday.
- Speculation that David Richman could be considered for higher-profile jobs is anecdotal; no firm offers or negotiations have been reported publicly as of publication.
- Individual player availability or injury statuses for the NCAA Tournament have not been finalized for many teams and could alter lineups.
Bottom line
Conference championship week once again delivered a mix of established programs and breakthrough stories. Furman and Troy join a cohort of midmajors whose automatic bids will complicate bracket-making and create matchup headaches for higher seeds. The diversity of champions — from first-time qualifiers to long-established midmajor powers — underscores the NCAA Tournament’s yearly blend of continuity and unpredictability.
Selection Sunday will finalize where these champions fall on the bracket, but the immediate takeaway is clear: several programs arrive in March on winning streaks and with compelling narratives that could translate into upset potential. Fans, bettors and committee members should watch for how seeding, matchup styles and recent form intersect when the full field is revealed.
Sources
- The New York Times / The Athletic — news coverage and conference summaries (original article)
- CBS Sports — social clip and broadcast reaction (social media/clip)
- NCAA.com — official tournament structure and eligibility guidance (official)