Your social media timelines were probably filled to the brim Monday with either "This is March" or "It's March" posts. And yes, indeed, two years removed from the most recent NCAA Tournament we're on track to have a field of 68 go to Indianapolis in a few weeks.
It will certainly look different, with the tournament being played exclusively in one surrounding area, but if anything it should only add to the chaos that March Madness can bring. Automatic bids will start to roll in this week, starting with the Ohio Valley Conference on March 6. As you start to truly pay attention to teams you like (or don't) for your bracket, don't forget about the little guys. While there are certainly bubble teams fighting for at-large berths in the major conference tournaments, the focus here is on lesser-known teams that could bust brackets in three weeks.
While all of these teams likely have to win their conference tournaments to get into the Big Dance, they are worth watching nonetheless, so you can be better prepared to fill out a bracket come Selection Sunday.
Liberty: The two-time defending Atlantic Sun champions are the favorites to three-peat. Entering Tuesday at 20-5 overall, the Flames are couple of plays away from an even better record. Four of its five losses are by single digits, and both league losses (to Lipscomb and Stetson) were later avenged with double-digit victories. Though the Flames are 0-3 against power opponents (losing by 13 to Purdue, 4 to TCU and 9 to Missouri), they'll be in most games against higher seeds because of a stingy defense that's third nationally, allowing 58.9 points per game. It might not be pretty, but they can win a 56-55 game in the opening round.
Belmont: Arguably no one was hit harder by the November cancellations than the Bruins, who lost four Quad 1 games in a span of weeks. They were supposed to go to Orlando in a field with Gonzaga, Michigan State, Auburn, Saint Louis, Boise State and Xavier, all at least NCAA Tournament bubble teams except for the Tigers. Then they had a game against USC wiped out.
It takes a lot of luster out of a 24-3 record, made even worse by a late-season sweep at the hands of Morehead State that came without leading scorer Nick Muszynski. The favorites to repeat in the OVC, this is a balanced team that averages 82.1 points per game, with six players averaging at least nine points. They're a 7-seed quality team that will be on the 11 or 12-seed line.
St. Bonaventure: The Atlantic-10 has cannibalized itself, turning a potential four or five-bid league into one or two. Even if they lose in the A-10 Tournament, the Bonnies should be in the field. You might not know a single player, but this is a team that's 28th in the NET rankings, 35th in KenPom and has a top-10 scoring defense (60.9 points allowed). All five starters average double-figures. St. Bonaventure will be in the field one way or another - give them a look.
Winthrop: The Eagles only have a pair of Quad 2 wins to their name, but a 21-1 record is eye-popping regardless of the competition. Winthrop is incredibly balanced, boasting a top-30 scoring offense (79.2 PPG) despite its leading scorer, Chandler Vaudrin, averaging only 12.2 points.
Speaking of Vaudrin, the 6-7 senior does it all, leading the Eagles in scoring, rebounding (7.0), assists (6.9) and steals (1.4), and put up a triple-double in the Big South quarterfinals. He's the classic type of player that can single-handedly steal a game in March.
Western Kentucky: There are a couple of Conference-USA teams ranked higher in the NET than the Hilltoppers (Louisiana Tech and North Texas, with Marshall not far behind). But none of those teams has a NBA-caliber player like WKU's Charles Bassey. A former five-star recruit, Bassey is averaging 17.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game in leading the 'Toppers to a 17-5 overall record and a spot atop the C-USA East Division.
Drake & Loyola-Chicago: The Ramblers are back! Ranked 20th in the nation, 16th in the NET and 12th(!) in KenPom, the darlings of the 2018 Tournament are even better in 2021, led by a staple from that Final Four team in Cameron Krutwig (team-best 15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 blocks).
The metrics indicate Sister Jean and company will be in the field of 68 regardless of what happens in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The same can't be said for Drake, who started the year 18-0 and now sits at 24-3. While one of those losses came to Loyola 51-50 in overtime, losses to sub-.500 Valparaiso and Bradley means a gaudy record won't be enough to get in without the auto-bid. The MVC should be rooting for the Bulldogs to win the tournament and make it a multi-bid league.