***Auto-Bid Madness 2026***

cyclones500

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Jan 29, 2010
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It’s time for CycloneFanatic’s annual “Auto-Bid Madness." I’m co-administrator, along with @ImJustKCClone, spreadsheet extraordinaire.

It's the 13th year for the contest.

Summary
Choose the automatic qualifier for each of 31 conferences for the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Deadline format
We have two separate deadlines for submitting picks, based on the two-week tournament schedule cycle. Contestants are free to submit picks for both groups by the first deadline, if they desire. (See “Conference Template” below).

Scoring
Each correct pick receives 1 point.

Tiebreaker system
Primary: Correct Big 12 tournament champ.
Secondary: If you correctly pick a team nobody else did. If still tied, it could extend to multiple cases, if applicable.
Tertiary: Highest number of correct picks that aren’t favorites (i.e., teams seeded #1 in their respective tournament).

CONFERENCE TEMPLATE
To streamline record-keeping, post your selections in the precise order as presented, within each group. Include your CF screen name at the top. Post your picks in this thread, do not PM them. You may revise selections at any time until the deadline. If you do make a revision, we request tagging @ImJustKCClone. Typically, we begin compiling entries shortly after they're submitted.

Group 1
Deadline: Monday, March 2, 6 p.m. Central

America East
ASUN
Big Sky
Big South
CAA
Horizon
MAAC
Missouri Valley
NEC
OVC
Patriot
SoCon
Southland
Summit
Sun Belt
West Coast

Group 2
Deadline: Monday, March 9, 6 p.m. Central

ACC
American
Atlantic 10
Big 12
Big East
Big Ten
Big West
C-USA
Ivy
Mid-American
MEAC
Mountain West
SEC
SWAC
WAC

In follow-up posts, I’ll note teams ineligible for NCAAT; handy links to schedules, sites & brackets; and past results of Auto-Bid Madness.

Let the madness begin, and good luck!
 
Notes regarding eligibility

Some conferences allow ineligible teams to participate in the league tournament, but cannot obtain an automatic bid. In those cases, we allow either/or.
ASUN: West Georgia (but eligible for ASUN tournament).
MEAC: Coppin State (will not participate in conference tournament).
NEC: LeMoyne and Mercyhurst are ineligible for NCAA auto-bid, but are allowed to participate in conference tournament. If both reach the final, semifinal losers play a qualifier game for NCAAT invite. (New Haven is ineligible for both).

Update: Additional element — some leagues do not allow all teams into the tournament, even if they otherwise are eligible for postseason (MAC is an example -- only the top 8 play in league tourney).
 
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CONTEST HISTORY

Final standings, 2025

(Tie-breakers did not apply beyond champion)
1. @ClonesTwenty1, 19-12
2. (tie) @CycloneNorth, @cycloner29, 18-13
4. (tie) @Cupped, @CycloneEggie, ImJustKCClone, 16-15
7. (tie) @CoachHines3, @CoKane, @coolerifyoudid, @Cyclonsin, @gipper2001, @riceville98, @CycloneRulzzz, @ScottyP, 15-16
15. @1UNI2ISU, 14-17
16. cyclones500, 13-18
17. (tie) @August (group 2 only), @Hubbs4cy, 11-20
19. @CyCoug, 8-23
20. @qwerty, 4-27

Champions, by year
(W-L in parentheses)
2025: ClonesTwenty1 (19-12)
2024: AlaCyclone (16-16)
2023: AlaCyclone (19-13) (by tiebreaker, over ImJustKCClone)
2022: BoredInKildee (17-15)
2021: riceville98 (15-16)
2020: (tie) CycloneNorth, ZB4CY (7-5)*
2019: cykee05kn (14-18)
2018: CrossCyed (17-15)
2017: ZB4CY (18-14)
2016: (tie) gipper2001, time4cy (15-16) (after 2 tiebreakers)
2015: CoKane (16-15)
2014: cyclones500 (14-17)
*Informal co-champs, by winning percentage. Contest truncated, NCAA tournament canceled due to pandemic.
 
Group 1
America East: UMBC
ASUN: APSU
Big Sky: Portland State
Big South: High Point
CAA: UNCW
Horizon: Wright State
MAAC: Merrimack
Missouri Valley: Belmont
NEC: Long Island
OVC: Morehead State
Patriot: Navy
SoCon: ETSU
Southland: McNeese
Summit: NDSU
Sun Belt: Marshall
West Coast: Gonzaga
 
Cyclonsin



Group 1
America East: Vermont
ASUN: Austin Peay
Big Sky: Montana State
Big South: High Point
CAA: Hofstra
Horizon: Robert Morris
MAAC: Merrimack
Missouri Valley: Belmont
NEC: LIU
OVC: TN Martin
Patriot: Navy
SoCon: ETSU
Southland: McNeese St
Summit: St. Thomas
Sun Belt: Troy
West Coast: Gonzaga

Group 2
ACC: Duke
American: USF
Atlantic 10: SLU
Big 12: Iowa State
Big East: UConn
Big Ten: Michigan
Big West: UC Irvine
C-USA: Sam Houston St
Ivy: Yale
Mid-American: Akron
MEAC: Howard
Mountain West: Utah State
SEC: Florida
SWAC: Bethune-Cookman
WAC: Utah Valley
 
Riceville98


Group 1
Deadline: Monday, March 2, 6 p.m. Central

America East UMBC
ASUN Central Arkansas
Big Sky Portland State
Big South High Point
CAA UNC Wilmington
Horizon Robert Morris
MAAC Merrimack
Missouri Valley Belmont
NEC LIU
OVC Morehead State
Patriot Navy
SoCon East Tennessee State
Southland McNeese State
Summit St Thomas
Sun Belt Troy
West Coast Gonzaga

Group 2
Deadline: Monday, March 9, 6 p.m. Central

ACC Duke
American Wichita State
Atlantic 10 Saint Louis
Big 12 Arizona
Big East Uconn
Big Ten Michigan
Big West Hawaii
C-USA Liberty
Ivy Yale
Mid-American Miami OH
MEAC Howard
Mountain West San Diego State
SEC Alabama
SWAC Bethune-Cookman
WAC Utah Tech

Thanks to @cyclones500 and @ImJustKCClone for all the work on this. It makes Champ Week(s) fun to follow along. I believe I have the teams placed correctly but, if not, please let me know!!
 
1UNI2ISU

Group 1
America East-Vermont
ASUN-Austin Peay
Big Sky-Montana State
Big South-High Point
CAA-UNCW
Horizon-Robert Morris
MAAC-Merrimack
Missouri Valley-Belmont
NEC-Central Connecticut State
OVC-UT Martin
Patriot-Navy
SoCon-Furman
Southland-SFA
Summit-St Thomas
Sun Belt-Marshall
West Coast-Gonzaga

Group 2
ACC-Duke
American-Tulsa
Atlantic 10-Saint Louis
Big 12-Arizona
Big East-UConn
Big Ten-Michigan
Big West-UC Irvine
C-USA-Western Kentucky
Ivy-Yale
Mid-American-Miami (OH)
MEAC-Norfolk State
Mountain West-New Mexico
SEC-Florida
SWAC-Bethune-Cookman
WAC-Cal Baptist
 
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Riceville98


Group 1
Deadline: Monday, March 2, 6 p.m. Central

America East UMBC
ASUN Central Arkansas
Big Sky Portland State
Big South High Point
CAA UNC Wilmington
Horizon Robert Morris
MAAC Merrimack
Missouri Valley Belmont
NEC LIU
OVC Morehead State
Patriot Navy
SoCon East Tennessee State
Southland McNeese State
Summit St Thomas
Sun Belt Troy
West Coast Gonzaga

Group 2
Deadline: Monday, March 9, 6 p.m. Central

ACC Duke
American Wichita State
Atlantic 10 Saint Louis
Big 12 Arizona
Big East Uconn
Big Ten Michigan
Big West Hawaii
C-USA Liberty
Ivy Yale
Mid-American Miami OH
MEAC Howard
Mountain West San Diego State
SEC Alabama
SWAC Bethune-Cookman
WAC Utah Tech

Thanks to @cyclones500 and @ImJustKCClone for all the work on this. It makes Champ Week(s) fun to follow along. I believe I have the teams placed correctly but, if not, please let me know!!
We appreciate the compliment, and thank you for continued participation! To verify, your selections match the proper conferences.
 
Note: Several brackets for 1st week tournaments are set, available at link below. A few others will be confirmed after today's games (3/1).

Secondary note: Sun Belt tournament has 7(!) rounds.

Additional note: Thread bump! Deadline for group 1 is Mundee, 3/2.

 
Switched my Sun Belt pick after Arkansas State got done dirty by tiebreakers. They're still the best team in the league but they aren't winning 5 in 5 days.

Those ladder brackets screw over everybody unless you're the WCC where you've got 2 or 3 teams that are head and shoulders above everybody else. Terrible setup for competitive leagues.
 
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Switched my Sun Belt pick after Arkansas State got done dirty by tiebreakers. They're still the best team in the league but they aren't winning 5 in 5 days.

Those ladder brackets screw over everybody unless you're the WCC where you've got 2 or 3 teams that are head and shoulders above everybody else. Terrible setup for competitive leagues.
Yeah, the # of ties in Sun Belt standings is bonkers this season, especially with the laddering. That could be the most unpredictable tournament.
 
@AlaCyclone

Group 1
Deadline: Monday, March 2, 6 p.m. Central

America East: Vermont Catamounts
ASUN: Lipscomb Bisons
Big Sky: Portland State Vikings
Big South: Radford Highlanders
CAA: UNC-Wilmington Seahawks
Horizon: Robert Morris Colonials
MAAC: Marist Red Foxes
Missouri Valley: Belmont Bruins
NEC: Long Island University Sharks
OVC: UT-Martin Skyhawks
Patriot: Colgate Raiders
SoCon: Mercer Bears
Southland: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Summit: South Dakota Coyotes
Sun Belt: South Alabama Jaguars
West Coast: Gonzaga Bulldogs

Group 2
Deadline: Monday, March 9, 6 p.m. Central

ACC: Duke Blue Devils
American: U.A.B. Blazers
Atlantic 10: St. Louis Billikens
Big 12: Houston Cougars
Big East: UConn Huskies
Big Ten: Michigan Wolverines
Big West: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
C-USA: SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS (Edit on 3/6)
Ivy: YALE BULLDOGS (Edit on 3/6)

Mid-American: Miami (OH) RedHawks
MEAC: HOWARD BISON (Edit on 3/6)
Mountain West: Utah State Aggies
SEC: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (Edit on 3/6)
SWAC: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (Edit on 3/6)
WAC: UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES (Edit on 3/6)


Thank you @cyclones500 and @ImJustKCClone

Let me know if I picked one that didn't meet the parameters s.v.p.
 
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@AlaCyclone

Group 1
Deadline: Monday, March 2, 6 p.m. Central

America East: Vermont Catamounts
ASUN: Lipscomb Bisons
Big Sky: Portland State Vikings
Big South: Radford Highlanders
CAA: UNC-Wilmington Seahawks
Horizon: Robert Morris Colonials
MAAC: Marist Red Foxes
Missouri Valley: Belmont Bruins
NEC: Long Island University Sharks
OVC: UT-Martin Skyhawks
Patriot: Colgate Raiders
SoCon: Mercer Bears
Southland: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Summit: South Dakota Coyotes
Sun Belt: South Alabama Jaguars
West Coast: Gonzaga Bulldogs

Thank you @cyclones500 and @ImJustKCClone

Let me know if I picked one that didn't meet the parameters s.v.p.
Thanks!

All the choices match the correct conference.

Wish we could offer bonus points for team-color & nickname designation. :)

But we can't. :D (Maybe next year, we can make it one of the tiebreakers)
 
Group 1
America East - UMBC
ASUN - Central Arkansas
Big Sky - Montana State
Big South - High Point
CAA - UNCW
Horizon - Robert Morris
MAAC - Merrimack
Missouri Valley - Belmont
NEC - Long Island U
OVC - Morehead State
Patriot - Navy
SoCon - Mercer
Southland - McNeese State
Summit - St. Thomas
Sun Belt - Arkansas State
West Coast - Gonzaga
Group 2

ACC - Duke
American - South Florida
Atlantic 10 - Saint Louis
Big 12 - Arizona
Big East - UConn
Big Ten - Michigan
Big West - Hawaii
C-USA - Liberty
Ivy - Yale
Mid-American - Miami OH
MEAC - Howard
Mountain West - Utah State
SEC - Florida
SWAC - Bethune-Cookman
WAC - Utah Valley
 
Group 1
Deadline: Monday, March 2, 6 p.m. Central

America East -UMBC
ASUN - Austin Peay
Big Sky- Eastern Washington
Big South - High Point
CAA -UNC Wilmington
Horizon - Robert Morris
MAAC - Merrimack
Missouri Valley - Murray St
NEC - LIU
OVC - UT Martin
Patriot - Navy
SoCon - East Tennessee St.
Southland - McNeese St
Summit - St. Thomas
Sun Belt - Troy
West Coast - St. Mary's

Group 2
Deadline: Monday, March 9, 6 p.m. Central

ACC - Duke
American - South Florida
Atlantic 10 - St. Louis
Big 12 - Arizona
Big East - UConn
Big Ten - Michigan
Big West - UC San Diego
C-USA - Liberty
Ivy - Penn
Mid-American - Akron
MEAC - - Howard
Mountain West - New Mexico
SEC - Florida
SWAC - Bethune Cookman
WAC - Cal Baptist
 
Group 1
America East: Vermont
ASUN: Eastern Kentucky
Big Sky: Montana State
Big South: High Point
CAA: Charleston
Horizon: Green Bay
MAAC: Fairfield
Missouri Valley: Murray State
NEC: FDU
OVC: Lindenwood
Patriot: Navy
SoCon: ETSU
Southland: McNeese St
Summit: St. Thomas
Sun Belt: Texas State
West Coast: Gonzaga

Group 2
ACC: Duke
American: USF
Atlantic 10: SLU
Big 12: Arizona
Big East: UConn
Big Ten: Michigan
Big West: UC Irvine
C-USA: Liberty
Ivy: Yale
Mid-American: Miami OH
MEAC: Howard
Mountain West: San Diego State
SEC: Florida
SWAC: Bethune-Cookman
WAC: Utah Valley
 
Okay - as of 11.40p I have everyone logged that has posted picks, and marked their posts with the blue circle *i" for informative. If you post your picks after this post, check back to see if I have marked them as logged.

Also, as of now I have both segments for everyone except Clones21 and AlaCyclone. No big deal - just don't forget to enter your second group of picks!
 
Okay - as of 11.40p I have everyone logged that has posted picks, and marked their posts with the blue circle *i" for informative. If you post your picks after this post, check back to see if I have marked them as logged.

Also, as of now I have both segments for everyone except Clones21 and AlaCyclone. No big deal - just don't forget to enter your second group of picks!
@ImJustKCClone I just added my Group 2 picks to my Group 1 picks post, so you can get me completely logged and give me my blue circle "i"! :)
 
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