Final Auto-Bid Preview

This post is going to cover the remaining teams that have locked up auto bids for the NCAA tournament.

A10 Champion: VCU

PPG: 81.9

OREB: 11.3

DREB: 25.4

AST: 14.2

FG%: 46.2%

3P%: 36.3%

FT%: 74.1%


Top Players:

  • Terrence Hill (14.4 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 2.8 Ast)

  • Lazar Djokovic (13.8 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

  • Jadrian Tracey (10.1 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 1.8 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Scores the ball at a high clip

  • Good three point shooting team

  • Shoots a lot of free throws

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Commits a lot of fouls

  • Allows over 70 ppg


Likely Seed:

  • 11

How will they do?

Whatever 6 that draws VCU should be scared. They are a fast paced team that can score at will and now acts as a bid stealer. I think an 11-seed is very favorable for them, I see them going to the sweet sixteen.


ACC Champion: Duke

PPG: 82.3

OREB: 12.5

DREB: 27.8

AST: 16.9

FG%: 49.0%

3P%: 35.1%

FT%: 72.4%


Top Players:

  • Cameron Boozer (22.5 Pts, 10.2 Reb, 4.2 Ast)

  • Isiah Evans (14.9 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 1.4 Ast)

  • Patrick Ngongba (10.7 Pts, 6.0 Reb, 1.9 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Great defensive team

  • Opponents don’t shoot many free throws

  • Top 3 in the country all year

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Not the best three point shooting team

  • Most of their offense runs through Cam Boozer


Likely Seed:

  • 1

How will they do?

I wasn’t sure if Duke was going to win the ACC championship but am not shocked at all that they did. They have either been number 1 or 2 in the AP polls all year and cemented their number 1 overall seed last night. This is a team that doesn’t do much wrong and haven’t all season. There is no reason that we shouldn’t be seeing this team in the Final Four at a minimum, but in reality Duke will be the favorites for their first national championship since 2015. 


American East Champion: UMBC

PPG: 76.2

OREB: 8.2

DREB: 27.3

AST: 12.2

FG%: 47.1%

3P%: 36.1%

FT%: 76.2%


Top Players:

  • Jah’Likai King (13.9 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

  • DJ Armstrong (13.2 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 2.1 Ast)

  • Ace Valentine (12.0 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 4.0 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Holds teams to under 70 ppg

  • Doesn’t turn the ball over

  • Doesn’t commit many fouls

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Bad offensive rebounding team

  • Shorter team

  • Not the best at scoring


Likely Seed:

  • 15

How will they do?

UMBC is back in the Big Dance for the first time since 2018 when they became the first 16-seed to beat a 1-seed. How are they going to do this time around? Who knows but certainly not a team to count out. DJ Armstrong had an insane game in the American East championship game against Vermont and teams will not want to see him get going like that again. 


American Champion: USF

PPG: 88.3

OREB: 15.6

DREB: 27.3

AST: 17.3

FG%: 44.1%

3P%: 33.3%

FT%: 74.3%


Top Players:

  • Izaiyah Nelson (15.8 Pts, 9.7 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

  • Wes Enis (16.7 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

  • Joseph Pinton (14.5 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 2.3 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Score a lot of points

  • Shoots the most free throws

  • 2nd best rebounding team in the country

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Give up a lot of points

  • Commits a lot of fouls


Likely Seed:

  • 11

How will they do?

The USF Bulls are going to be a scary matchup for whoever they play. They are a high flying team that can score a ton of points quickly. If they get into a shootout with a lower seed, I see them winning. I believe they will be a round of 32 exit. 


Big 12 Champion: Arizona

PPG: 86.1

OREB: 12.8

DREB: 29.8

AST: 16.9

FG%: 50.2%

3P%: 36.0%

FT%: 73.4%


Top Players:

  • Brayden Burries (15.9 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

  • Jaden Bradley (13.3 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 4.5 Ast)

  • Koa Peat (13.6 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 2.7 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Consistent top team in the country

  • Great scoring team

  • Good at rebounding

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Not the best at free throw shooting

  • Relies on younger players, inexperience factor


Likely Seed:

  • 1

How will they do?

Arizona has been one of the best teams in the country all year. They won the Big 12, which I think is the hardest conference in the country, and have been the best team there all season as well. This is another team, along with Duke and Michigan, that I think are Final Four or bust. I would be shocked if we didn’t see them playing in the final weekend of the tournament. 


Big East Champion: St. John’s

PPG: 81.6

OREB: 13.1

DREB: 25.6 

AST: 16.3

FG%: 45.3%

3P%: 33.2%

FT%: 72.7%


Top Players:

  • Zuby Ejifor (16.3 Pts, 7.1 Reb, 3.5 Ast)

  • Bryce Hopkins (13.5 Pts, 6.2 Reb, 2.0 Ast)

  • Oziyah Sellers (10.7 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 1.7 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Good rebounding team

  • Good defensive team

  • Solid senior leadership and legendary head coach

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Not a good three point shooting team

  • Not good at free throw shooting


Likely Seed:

  • 4

How will they do?

St. John’s might be the hottest team coming into the NCAA tournament. They won the Big East regular season title and then ran through the tournament, beating UConn handily in the championship game. Whatever struggles they were having towards the end of the season seem to be gone, they are going to be a scary team. I say their floor should be a sweet sixteen appearance. 


Big Ten Champion: Purdue

PPG: 81.7

OREB: 11.4

DREB: 24.2

AST: 19.9

FG%: 49.8%

3P%: 38.1%

FT%: 74.4%


Top Players:

  • Braden Smith (14.0 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 9.0 Ast)

  • Fletcher Loyer (13.8 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 2.0 Ast)

  • Trey Kaufman-Renn (13.4 Pts, 8.7 Reb, 2.7 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Returning senior players

  • Passes the ball around well

  • Doesn’t turn the ball over

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Not the best rebounding team

  • Doesn’t shoot many free throws


Likely Seed:

  • 3

How will they do?

Purdue is going to be a very interesting team to watch this tournament. They ended the regular season on a rough patch but clawed their way back to win the Big Ten tournament. I can see this team making a run to the Elite Eight, I can also see them losing on the first weekend. A toss up for a really good team. 


Big West Champion: Hawaii

PPG: 79.6

OREB: 11.1

DREB: 28.2

AST: 13.7

FG%: 45.9%

3P%: 31.5%

FT%: 74.1%


Top Players:

  • Isaac Johnson (14.1 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 1.1 Ast)

  • Quandre Bullock (13.5 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 1.9 Ast)

  • Harry Rouhliadeff (10.8 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 1.4 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Older, experienced team

  • Gives up less than 70 ppg

  • One of the top defensive rebounding teams

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Turns the ball over a lot

  • Not the best free throw shooting team

  • Bad three point shooting team


Likely Seed:

  • 13/14

How will they do?

Hawaii is a team that is coming into the tournament with a lot of momentum following their great season in the Big West. They are a team that can score the ball and grab a lot of rebounds which could make it difficult for their opponents. I don’t believe they will win a game, but never count the Rainbow Warriors out. 


CUSA Champion: Kennesaw State

PPG: 83.4

OREB: 13.9

DREB: 26.4

AST: 14.3

FG%: 44.6%

3P%: 35.0%

FT%: 69.1%


Top Players:

  • RJ Johnson (14.5 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 4.0 Ast)

  • Braeden Lue (11.1 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

  • Frankquan Sherman (10.3 Pts, 8.4 Reb, 1.0 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Great scoring team

  • They shoot a lot of free throws each game

  • Great at offensive rebounds

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • They don’t make many free throws

  • Allows a lot of points

  • Bad field goal percentage


Likely Seed:

  • 14/15

How will they do?

The Owls of Kennesaw State are back in the NCAA Tournament for the second time, last time was in 2023 where they lost in the first round. I don’t believe this team will be able to keep up with a high major team, but if they do it will be because of their free throws. They shoot a lot of them and if they can begin to make them, they could hang around.


Ivy League Champion: Penn

PPG: 75.7

OREB: 11.5

DREB: 24.9

AST: 13.9

FG%: 44.0%

3P%: 38.1%

FT%: 68.5%


Top Players:

  • TJ Power (15.8 Pts, 7.6 Reb, 2.4 Ast)

  • Ethan Roberts (16.9 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 2.3 Ast)

  • Michael Zanoni (11.7 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.6 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Returns over 50% of their scoring from last year

  • Top 20 in three point percentage

  • Legendary head coach in Fran McCaffery 

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Not good at scoring or scoring defense

  • Awful at free throw shooting


Likely Seed:

  • 14/15

How will they do?

Penn upset Yale in the Ivy League championship game to make it to the tournament under coach Fran McCaffery in his first season. I don’t believe they will win a game, but if TJ Power goes off again and scores over 40 points, then it could become a shootout.


MAC Champion: Akron

PPG: 88.4

OREB: 11.4

DREB: 26.7

AST: 18.4

FG%: 50.3%

3P%: 37.9%

FT%: 75.4%


Top Players:

  • Tavari Johnson (20.1 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 5.0 Ast)

  • Amani Lyles (14.6 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 2.2 Ast)

  • Shammah Scott (12.7 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 2.9 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Great scoring and assisting team

  • Great field goal and three point field goal percentage

  • Returns over 50% of their minutes and scoring

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Gives up a lot of points

  • Turns the ball over

  • Does not shoot many free throws


Likely Seed:

  • 12

How will they do?

All of the talk in the MAC has been on Miami OH, but Akron has been in the background as an even more convincing team. Their only conference loss and loss in 2026 came from Miami, but since then they have been beating down on teams. They are a fast, high scoring team that is going to be scary. I see them as a sweet sixteen threat,


MEAC Champion: Howard

PPG: 77.5

OREB: 12.4

DREB: 24.2

AST: 16.2

FG%: 45.9%

3P%: 34.5%

FT%: 73.1%


Top Players:

  • Bryce Harris (17.1 Pts, 6.9 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

  • Cedric Taylor (17.1 Pts, 6.7 Reb, 3.3 Ast)

  • Cam Gillus (10.6 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 4.6 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Great defensive team, top 40 in opponents ppg

  • Teams don’t shoot the three ball well against them

  • Top 10 in opponent turnovers

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • High amount of turnovers

  • Not the best three point shooting team


Likely Seed:

  • 16

How will they do?

Howard has been the best team in the MEAC all year, so not shocking they won the tournament and are an auto-bid for the tournament. I don’t believe they will win a game, but they are a fun story.


Mountain West Champion: Utah State

PPG: 82.5

OREB: 10.9

DREB: 23.7

AST: 17.6

FG%: 49.8%

3P%: 35.8%

FT%: 70.7%


Top Players:

  • MJ Collins (17.6 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.6 Ast)

  • Mason Falsley (16.1 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 3.1 Ast)

  • Karson Templin (9.1 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 0.8 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Great scoring and defensive team

  • Top 15 in field goal percentage

  • Solid three point shooting team

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Commits a lot of fouls

  • Not the best rebounding team


Likely Seed:

  • 8

How will they do?

Utah State is going to be an interesting team coming into the tournament. They are a solid team out of the Mountain West which looked like a two bid league for awhile. They didn’t have the best end to the season but had a great run in the conference tournament. I see them losing in the round of 32 to whichever 1-seed they will play. 


SEC Champion: Arkansas

PPG: 90.1

OREB: 11.2

DREB: 24.9

AST: 16.9

FG%: 50.0%

3P%: 38.1%

FT%: 74.7%


Top Players:

  • Darius Acuff (22.7 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 6.4 Ast)

  • Maleek Thomas (15.6 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

  • Trevon Brazile (13.1 Pts, 7.3 Reb, 1.6 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Top 3 in scoring offense

  • Takes care of the ball

  • Top 20 in three point shooting percentage

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Gives up a lot of points

  • Not the greatest rebounding team

  • Fouls a lot


Likely Seed:

  • 4

How will they do?

Arkansas won the SEC championship, beating Vanderbilt who took down Florida in the semifinals. This team is led by SEC player of the year, Darius Acuff, and head coach John Calipari. I think this team will make it to the sweet sixteen, but I struggle to see them beating a 1-seed. 


SWAC Champion: Prairie View A&M

PPG: 78.9

OREB: 10.1

DREB: 23.9

AST: 11.9

FG%: 44.3%

3P%: 33.4

FT%: 75.3


Top Players:

  • Dontae Horn (20.2 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 3.1 Ast)

  • Tai’reon Joseph (18.2 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

  • Cory Wells (13.1 Pts, 7.1 Reb, 2.2 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Turns teams over well

  • Gets to the line and makes their free throws

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Not the best three point shooting team

  • Commits a lot of fouls


Likely Seed:

  • 16

How will they do?

Prairie View has a couple players that score more than 18 points per game and can potentially make a 1-seed sweat for a little bit. While I don’t see them winning a game, it is still a great run to the tournament for the Panthers. 


WAC Champion: California Baptist

PPG: 73.3

OREB: 14.0

DREB: 26.1

AST: 10.4

FG%: 43.3%

3P%: 33.7%

FT%: 71.6%


Top Players:

  • Dominique Daniels (23.2 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 3.2 Ast)

  • Martel Williams (12.8 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

  • Jayden Jackson (9.5 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 1.8 Ast)


Biggest Strengths:

  • Great defensive team

  • Grab a lot of offensive rebounds

Biggest Weaknesses:

  • Doesn’t score at high clip

  • Only two players averaging over 10 points


Likely Seed:

  • 13

How will they do?

Cal Baptist is a hard team to judge. Their stats don’t jump out to you, but they are a strong defensive team that doesn’t let you score the ball. They beat a solid Utah Valley team, but I don’t think their momentum will carry into the tournament. I see them losing in the first round.


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