Cincinnati Bearcats Are 5 Seed In NCAA Tournament, Will Face 12 Seed Harvard Crimson

Mar 14, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin motions to his team during the first half against the Connecticut Huskies in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference college basketball tournament at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

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To say I’m surprised that the Cincinnati Bearcats were tabbed a 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament would be an understatement. With a resume that boasted wins over several ranked teams and their worse loss being to 12 seed Xavier, UC appeared to be headed for at worst a 4 seed. But the Selection Committee didn’t agree and gave the Bearcats a 5 seed along with VCU, Oklahoma, and Saint Louis. Cincinnati has by far the best resume of the four of them and stacks up against some 4’s.

But it is what it is and UC is scheduled for a difficult matchup with the Harvard Crimson of the Ivy League in Spokane, Washington on Thursday March 20th.

5 seeds have had a traditionally difficult time in the recent past. VCU was the only one to escape their opening round game in 2013 with Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, and UNLV all falling. In 2012, only Vanderbilt and New Mexico got out of day one. The good news is that this is Cincinnati’s highest seeding in the NCAA Tournament under Mick Cronin and I’m confident he will have his team rested and ready to play.

I’m hope you, too, are ready for the madness!