clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

I Slept On It: Nebraska Tops Wisconsin; Three Teams Clinch Bids

The Cornhuskers should be dancing after topping the Badgers, while three mid-major champs punched their tickets on a thrilling final Sunday of the regular season.

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

"I Slept On It" is Blogging the Bracket's nearly daily roundup of the previous night's college basketball action, with a bracketology focus.

Auto Bids

Fred VanVleet scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half to lead Wichita State (34-0, 21-0) to its first MVC Tournament title since 1987. The Shockers held off pesky two seed Indiana State (23-10, 14-7), 83-69, and will more than likely find themselves on the top seed line on Sunday evening.

Mercer (26-8, 17-4) denied Florida Gulf Coast (22-12, 16-5) a second consecutive NCAA bid by winning the Atlantic Sun title -- at their final attempt -- 68-60 in Fort Myers. It's the first NCAA trip for the Bears since 1985, when they fell to in-state rival Georgia Tech. Mercer shouldn't need to worry about such a draw this time around.

The Big South title went to Coastal Carolina (21-12, 14-5), which clinched its first bid since 1993, thanks to a resounding 76-61 home win over Winthrop (20-13, 13-7). The Chanticleers look to be destined for a slot in the First Four in Dayton.

Atlantic 10

Saint Louis (26-5, 13-3) claimed the conference title outright with a thrilling 64-62 win at UMass (23-7, 10-6). Jordair Jett's layup with four seconds left, combined with a missed Chaz Williams desperation three at the buzzer, gave the Billikens the win.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph's (21-9, 11-5) is a bit closer to the cut line this morning following a bad 71-63 home loss to struggling La Salle (15-15, 7-9). The Hawks will probably need to beat Dayton Flyers for the third time this season in order to lock up a place in Sunday's field of 68.

ACC

League runner-up Syracuse (27-4, 14-4) got Jerami Grant (16 points, 8 rebounds) back on Sunday at Florida State (18-12, 9-9), a return that helped spark a 74-58 Orange win. The loss pretty much ends the Seminoles' chances at an at-large, while the victorious Orange are still in play for a No. 1 seed with Grant's dynamic return.

Virginia (25-6, 16-2) will head into the ACC Tournament on a low note, however, following a 75-69 overtime loss at Maryland (17-14, 9-9). Seth Allen scored 20 and Dez Wells contributed 18 for the Terps, who completed their final ACC regular season with an unexpected victory.

N.C. State (19-12, 9-9) will head to Greensboro with some life, following a 78-68 home win over Boston College (8-23, 4-14). The Wolfpack will probably need to win at least two games to have any chance at selection, however.

Big Ten

Nebraska (19-11, 11-7) locked up the fourth seed in the Big Ten Tournament and more than likely a spot in the Big Dance with a 77-68 home win over Wisconsin (25-6, 12-6). Shavon Shields and Terran Petteway combined for 52 points on the night, as the Huskers grabbed their fourth win over a Top 50 opponent.

Ohio State (23-8, 10-8) won a back-and-forth affair against Michigan State (23-8, 12-6) in Columbus, 69-67. LaQuinton Ross led the Buckeyes with 22, but the Spartans' Adreian Payne led all scorers with 23.

Finally, Minnesota (19-12, 8-10) disposed of Penn State (15-16, 6-12), 81-63, to keep its hopes alive. The two will meet again in Indianapolis on the first night of the Big Ten Tournament. The Golden Gophers will really want a win in that one as well.

Be sure to follow @ChrisDobbertean on Twitter and to like Blogging the Bracket on Facebook and Google Plus.