NCAA March Madness 2015: Teams That Have Earned Automatic Bids

The 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA men’s basketball tournament is set to kick off on March 17. A total of 68 teams will take part in a single-elimination round and the winning team will be crowned as the national champion of the men’s basketball division in NCAA. Below are the teams that have earned automatic bids in the NCAA tournament.

North Florida Ospreys

The North Florida Ospreys secured their place in the NCAA tournament after beating USC-Upstate 63-57 in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship. It will be the Ospreys’ first trip to the NCAA tournament. Demarcus Daniels was one of the key players during the championship match scoring 22 points and grabbing six rebounds. Jalen Nesbitt and Dallas Moore also managed to get on to the score sheet with 16 and 13 points, apiece.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers earned their automatic bid after defeating Winthrop 81-70 in the Big South Conference Championship. The team is led by senior Josh Cameron, who scored 13 points, in the championship. It will be Chanticleers’ second consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and fourth overall.

Manhattan Jaspers

The Manhattan Jaspers downed arch-rival Iona 79-69 to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament. Ashton Pankey and Emmy Andujar scored double figures match with 21 and 18 points, respectively. The victory earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. It will be the Jaspers’ second straight appearance in the NCAA and eighth overall.

Northern Iowa Panthers

The Northern Iowa Panthers rallied to beat the Illinois State Redbirds in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship 69-60. The Panthers were led by senior forward Seth Turtle who scored 15 points during the game. It will be first time since 2010 that the Panthers will make an appearance in the NCAA tournament, their sixth overall.

Belmont Bruins

The Belmont Bruins had a thrilling win 88-87 over Murray State in the Ohio Valley Championship. A three-point shot from Taylor Barnette with only 3.2 seconds remaining in the clock gave the Bruins an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. Junior guard Craig Bradshaw topped the score sheet for the Bruins with 25 points.

Wofford Terriers

Wofford Terriers held off Furman Paladins 67-64 to win the Southern Conference Championship game and to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Terriers were led by Lee Skinner who scored 17 points. Erik Garcia and Karl Cochran added 15 and 11 points, respectively, for the Terriers.

Tournament Schedule

First Four: March 17 to 18

Second and Third Rounds: March 18 to 22

Sweet 16: March 26 to 27

Elite Eight: March 28 to 29

Final Four: April 4

Championship Game: April 6

To report problems about this article or leave feedback, email r.corpuz@IBTimes.com.au.