The selection committee should be commended for the job they did. Much like Dick Vitale, I feel for St. Mary's. Not only did the Gaels win 26 games, but they did so without their star Patty Mills for ten of those regular season games. (To compare, this would be like Kentucky playing wthout Jodie Meeks.) Obviously, the committee chose Arizona over St. Mary's because of non-conference wins. Problem is, teams are willing to play Arizona. Teams from the "BCS" conferences have everything to lose and nothing to gain when playing St. Mary's, making it that much harder for the Gaels to obtain a quality win.
Nevertheless, if Cleveland State doesn't win the Horizon tourney, Mississippi St. fails to win the great SEC (which received a grand total of three bids with an 8 seed being the highest), Temple does not upset Xavier and eventually win the A-10, or James Harden scores in the paint on one of Arizona St.'s final possessions to prevent a USC Pac-10 title, the Gaels would be in. Along with probably Creighton, San Diego St., and Penn St. As it stands now, they are out. Maybe next year they will land a quality opponent and get the opportunity for a resume-building win. Then again, they probably won't get the chance.
Upset specials and Final Four picks to come soon. Don't forget the tourney starts on Tuesday with the Morehead St. Eagles in the tourney for the first time in 25 years taking on the fighting Chief Kickingstallionsims(es) of Alabama St. Yes, that's his real name.
LOOK FOR THE EAGLES TO SOAR
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