Every year, there is going to be a team that feels like they got absolutely robbed by the NCAA tournament selection committee. That’s just inevitable when there’s a 68-team tournament and a handful of teams vying for limited at-large bids.
But it’s pretty difficult to argue against Texas A&M’s case to make this year’s NCAA tournament. The Aggies bounced back from an atrocious January and early February that saw them lose eight straight games, closing out to win 8 of 10 with ranked wins over Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas. They reached the SEC title game where they lost Sunday to Tennessee, but the Aggies certainly felt like they did enough at 23-12 to lock up one of the final bids.
The committee just didn’t see it that way at all. In a huge surprise, Texas A&M not only missed the tournament but it was also designated as the fourth replacement team — meaning that the committee had three teams ahead of the Aggies.
Four replacement teams if there’s a COViD issue pic.twitter.com/bDeFJmJHmT
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 13, 2022
The Aggies were clearly penalized for the eight-game losing streak, but the overall resume should have been enough to get A&M in the field.
Texas A&M got absolutely screwed. Unbelievable.
Texas A&M: 22-11
Notre Dame: 21-10A&M: 4-9 in Quad 1
ND: 2-8A&M: 42 in NET
ND: 53A&M: SEC tourney finalist
ND: lost in quarterfinals🤔🤔🤔
— Adam Spencer (@AdamSpencer4) March 13, 2022
No wonder fans were upset over the tournament’s biggest snub.