INDIANAPOLIS — The most direct route to the NCAA tournament is winning a conference tournament. All factors like a regular-season record, strength of schedule, and the like are thrown out the window. Just run the gauntlet and you’re going dancing, and 32 teams have done that with the championships being wrapped up this past weekend.
Here is the list of each team who that has clinched an automatic bid by winning their league’s post-season tournament. “Selection Monday” is set for the women this evening with the unveiling of the the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament, and it will include the Conference USA champions from Western Kentucky, who beat Southern Miss in the championship Saturday.