A week ago,
I was looking at CCIW Tournament scenarios, and lamenting how North Central had its fate not in its own hands. I talked a little bit on Thursday about
NCAA Tournament scenarios, but for North Central, the formula was simple: win and in. Admittedly,
I didn't think it would happen. But, like many members of the Cardinal basketball team expressed on social media Saturday night and Sunday morning, "They shouldn't have let us in."
The Cardinals avenged their two February overtime losses, nearly blowing a 23 point lead against Carthage on Friday before Aiden Chang played hero with a floater at the buzzer to send the Cardinals to the title game. There, they engaged Augustana in a back and forth affair where the Cardinals took control late, had some more free throw trouble, but locked down on defense enough late and did hit enough that they beat the Vikings and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. This Cardinal team is now a very dangerous opponent that I'm sure no one wants to see.
This morning, the NCAA unveiled the bracket for this year's tournament. I knew the CCIW was going to be in some rough water with regards to getting any at large bids. But for the tenth straight season, the CCIW will send multiple representatives to the Big Dance, as Augustana joined the Cardinals. North Central itself had a long wait, as they were the final team to go up on the board, but the drama was just left to seeing who the Cardinals would play this weekend.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at North Central's pod for the weekend and what to expect from the Cardinals' opponents standing in the way of their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2013.
