Connecticut and Boston University are in, and Boston College and Harvard are out -- of the NCAAs, at least -- as the NCAA Tournament begins this week with a bare minimum of New England represenatives.
Fresh off its Big East Tournament championship, UConn will look to continue its winning ways as the third seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies will take on No. 14 Bucknell in Washington D.C., and play for the right to take on the winner of No. 6 Cincinnati and No. 11 Missouri in the round of 32.
Boston University is New England's other local representative in the Big Dance. As the champions of the America East Tournament, the Terriers were guaranteed a spot in the field of 68. Their reward for winning their conference tournament? A No. 16 seed in the Southwest Region and a matchup with No. 1 Kansas in Tulsa, Okla. If the Terriers are able to upset the Jayhawks, they would be the first-ever 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed.
Boston College and Harvard were on the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament, but they were left out of the field. Instead, both teams will be playing in the NIT.
BC will be a No. 1 seed in the 32-team tourney and will take on No. 8 McNeese State in the first round on Tuesday at McNeese State. No. 6 Harvard will play at No. 3 Oklahoma State in their first-round matchup Tuesday.
In the 16-team College Basketball Invitational (CBI), Rhode Island will host a first-round game on Wednesday against Miami (Ohio).