March Madness Countdown: Automatic Bids and Championship Drama Unfolding

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — As conference tournament action heats up, more teams earn spots in the NCAA Tournament, intensifying excitement ahead of March Madness. On Thursday, the focus will be on high-stakes matchups, including a critical game for North Carolina, the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament, as they face the No. 4 seed Wake Forest.

The Tar Heels aim to build momentum entering the postseason, while top-ranked Duke will begin their journey as the No. 1 seed against No. 8 Georgia Tech. If both teams win, they would meet in a semifinal showdown on Friday.

Meanwhile, in the Big East Tournament, the top four seeds hit the court, with St. John's looking to complement their regular-season title with a conference crown. Under second-year coach Rick Pitino, the Red Storm are positioned to make a deep postseason run.

Several teams punched their tickets to the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday. McNeese, for instance, secured a spot for the second successive year after defeating No. 2 seed Lamar 63-54 in the Southland Tournament final.

Under coach Will Wade, McNeese has significantly improved since previously qualifying for the tournament in 2002, marking a transformation of the program. This year, the Cowboys are projected as a No. 12 seed.

American University also clinched their place in the NCAA Tournament after a 74-52 victory over Navy in the Patriot League final, marking their first tournament appearance since 2014. Guided by second-year coach Duane Simpkins, the Eagles are looking to build on their recent success, led by Matt Rogers, who scored 28 points in the championship game.

The momentum is certainly building as programs across the country vie for one of the 31 automatic bids to the NCAA basketball field. Each victory brings teams closer to their championship dreams, while also opening doors for potential Cinderella stories as tournament play unfolds.

As fans eagerly await Selection Sunday on March 16, conference tournaments will continue to highlight who the true contenders are. The drama of March Madness is set to unfold in the coming days, with teams battling for glory and the chance to secure their places on college basketball’s biggest stage.