Columbia University women’s basketball made March Madness for the first time ever after finishing the season at 23-6. The Lions received a well-deserved at-large bid despite a blowout loss in the Ivy League Championship.
However, the March Madness selection committee gave them a challenge.
Their decision was savage. It seemingly stemmed directly from head coach Megan Griffith’s impassioned plea about why her team should be in the field.
She called out the committee shortly after losing to Princeton, which went 25-4.
In doing so, Griffith spoke to the lack of at-large bids granted to mid-major programs throughout history. Her comments directly referenced the amount of Southeastern Conference teams that are presented with an at-large bid despite less-than-impressive records.
The committee heard Griffith loud and clear— in more ways than one.
Columbia made the field of 68. It is the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance!
Although the Lions are in, they will have to play their way into the First Round as a No. 12-seed in the ‘First Four.’ The Ivy League runners-up were placed in a play-in game.
And the opponent is rather ironic, for lack of better word.
Columbia will face Vanderbilt. The Commodores, of course, are an SEC team.
Megan Griffith looked the NCAA Tournament selection committee in the eyes and made a case for her team to receive an at-large bid over an SEC program. She got what she asked for.
To make the First Round, and get into the real bracket, the Lions will have to beat an SEC team. It’s as if the selection committee gave Griffith an opportunity to put her money where her mouth is.
If Columbia truly deserves to make the 64-team tournament over an SEC team, it will have to beat an SEC team to make the 64-team tournament. That’s a pretty spicy way of doing things.
Tipoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday!