Times change. Priorities change. And sometimes it happens on a year-to-year basis, especially where the NCAA Tournament selection process is concerned.
Four years ago, it was a Colorado State team that seemed safely in the field that was startlingly left out. It was the start of a stretch in which the quantity of high-end victories — top-50, Quadrant 1, pick your nomenclature — was valued above all else. That, inherently, favored power-conference teams.
Sunday brought a swing back in the other direction. It’s not necessarily good or bad, though the inclusion of a quality team such as Belmont will surely be celebrated ad nauseam by self-appointed Protectors of the Little Guy, which does grow every bit as tiresome as people stumping for the mediocre power-conference team of their choice.