Tournament selection shows: men’s Sunday, women’s Monday

Despite a disappointing title loss on Valpo’s home floor Tuesday night, there is perhaps a very faint glimmer of hope the Phoenix men (24-8) will hear their name called during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show at 5 p.m. CDT Sunday (March 15) on CBS. Saturday’s computer rankings had Coach Brian Wardle’s basketball team at an impressive No. 55 in the RPI. (Every year, it seems one or more team(s) in the 50s gets an at-large bid.) Much more likely, of course, is a call from the NIT. The 32 teams of that tournament will be unveiled at 7:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU.

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Are women in, regardless? — The women’s NCAA selection show is 6 p.m. Monday (March 16), with the 64-team field and pairings announced on ESPN. First-round games are Friday and Saturday (March 20 and 21) at campus sites, TBA. Analysts say UW-Green Bay would have a solid chance at an at-large bid even with a loss in Sunday’s Horizon finals, with non-conference wins over major programs and a sub-30 RPI for most of the season. For the latest RPI, http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-women/d1/ncaa-womens-basketball-rpi.