Jack Lawhorne — Student Reporter
North Andover, MA — As it stands, the Merrimack men’s basketball team sits atop the MAAC standings at 14–2, and according to ESPN Bracketology, the Warriors are currently projected as a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they would face No. 2 seed Iowa State in the Round of 64.
This ESPN ranking is very exciting — let me be clear though: this is a projection based entirely on regular-season results thus far. Merrimack cannot earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament without winning the MAAC Tournament. That’s the way to do it. But, with the conference tournament still ahead, regular-season standings are the only way to estimate potential seeding.
As one of 31 Division I conferences with an automatic qualifier, the MAAC guarantees its tournament champion a bid to March Madness, and this is regardless of regular-season record.
It is worth noting that earning an automatic bid does not always guarantee a direct spot in the Round of 64. Last season, Mount St. Mary’s won the MAAC Tournament after entering as the No. 6 seed in the conference. As a result, the Mount earned their automatic bid, but the selection committee placed them in the First Four as a 16 seed, where they won to advance before facing Duke in the Round of 64.
Nonetheless, Merrimack’s path to its first NCAA Tournament appearance is simple. It definitely isn’t easy, but it is simple: win the MAAC Tournament.
And if the Warriors do so, their dominant regular-season performance (if maintained) should help them avoid the First Four and advance directly to the Round of 64.
If Merrimack falls short in the conference tournament, however, they will not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament — regardless of their regular-season success — even a No. 1 seed in the MAAC standings cannot outweigh failing to win the conference tournament.
