Yesterday we took a look at our area NCAA basketball teams that have already secured a spot in the Big Dance. In our second installment, we examine the bubble teams, as well as those unfortunate enough to miss the postseason.

American University Eagles (20-11, 10-4)
The AU Eagles kept rollin’ on Sunday against Army, downing the fifth-seeded Black Knights in front a rockin’ Bender Arena by a score of 72-60. Junior Guard Garrison Carr went the distance for Jeff Jones’s squad, playing all 40 minutes, leading all scorers with 23 points (including five threes), and going 8-8 from the free throw line to seal the win. Also clutch was the surprising play of freshman Nick Hendra — son of Spinal Tap manager Ian Faith — who, despite not logging a single minute since January 30, poured in a career high 11 points and capped it with a dramatic dunk over an Army defender. The win puts the Eagles in the Patriot League championship game for the fourth time in the program’s history. Unfortunately, they’ve lost all four and will go for their first-ever NCAA tournament bid on Friday at 4:45 against Colgate. The third-seeded Raiders come to Tenleytown off a home semifinal win over Bucknell, but they’ve lost both meetings with American this year. Of course, it’s never easy to beat the same team three times in a season, yet it’s what AU will have to do to snag their first invitation to the Big Dance. The game has sold out already, but will be televised live on ESPN2.

What to Expect: The Patriot League has been relatively balanced this year, and, like we mentioned earlier, a third win against a league opponent seems somewhat unlikely. As much as we’re rooting for this likable Eagles squad, we see them suffering yet another loss in the conference final. Fifth time’s a charm?
-Graham Hough-Cornwell

Photo by Samer Farha