CBB Teams That Will Get a Recruiting Boost from Making the 2016 NCAA Tournament
The 2016 NCAA tournament tips this week, and that means we can examine which college basketball programs helped themselves the most in recruiting by making the Big Dance.
Getting into the NCAA tournament is such an important factor in college basketball recruiting because it's the singular event that most recruits talk about wanting to play in. For college coaches in multi-bid leagues, making the NCAA tournament is the only way to keep your job, and making a postseason run in the national spotlight is a huge way to get noticed by recruits.
For some of the programs on this list, making the NCAA tournament was important because they have head coaches who are trying to establish a standard of making this event every single year. For other programs on this list, proven head coaches reached a new level of achievement in the way they entered this NCAA tournament, so it means they could see a bump in recruiting as well from newfound success.
Here's a breakdown of 10 schools who helped themselves on the recruiting trail by playing in the 2016 NCAA tournament.
Miami Hurricanes
1 of 10
2015-16 Results: Miami was one of the major competitors for the ACC regular-season title, but it ultimately fell short. But the Hurricanes still finished 25-7 on the season and 13-5 in the ACC as they earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: This is only the eighth NCAA tournament appearance in program history, and Miami has now earned at least a No. 3 seed twice under Jim Larranaga (No. 2 seed in 2013). Getting back to this level is important if Miami wants to recruit with the elite programs of the ACC.
Oregon Ducks
2 of 10
2015-16 Results: Oregon beat 12 top-50 teams during the season as it claimed the Pac-12 regular-season and conference-tournament titles. The great wins helped the Ducks to a No. 1 seed as they went 26-8 during the season.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: As good as Oregon has been over the last few years, it's never been a No. 1 seed, and this is a chance to show the Ducks are among the nation's elite. This year, Oregon made a major move to compete with the big boys of college hoops, and recruits are taking notice.
Oregon State Beavers
3 of 10
2015-16 Results: In head coach Wayne Tinkle's second season, Oregon State finished 19-12 and 9-9 in the Pac-12 as the Beavers advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1990. Sitting as a No. 7 seed, Oregon State had a very good team, led by Gary Payton II.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: By making the NCAA tournament, it puts Oregon State on the national radar and shows Tinkle's rebuild is ahead of schedule. With a team of mostly young players, the Beavers also have plenty of room to grow the next few seasons, which will be attractive to recruits.
.png?w=256 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
Seton Hall Pirates
4 of 10
2015-16 Results: Seton Hall is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006 as the Pirates went 25-8 and won the Big East conference tournament. A bubble team until peaking in February, Seton Hall won eight of its last nine games before the tournament.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: With a 10-year NCAA tournament drought and head coach Kevin Willard only making the NIT once in his first five years at the school, Seton Hall desperately needed this appearance to be relevant again. With other area schools like Rutgers and St. John's continuing to rebuild, the time is now for Seton Hall to capitalize on the recruiting trail with this recent success.
Syracuse Orange
5 of 10
2015-16 Results: After self-imposing a postseason ban for the 2014-15 season, the Orange are back in the NCAA tournament after finishing 19-13 overall and 9-9 in the ACC. Even though Syracuse only played with 10 scholarship players, it did enough to make it back to the Big Dance.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: Nobody knew how Syracuse would respond to the NCAA scandal that took away scholarships and a postseason appearance, but the Orange and head coach Jim Boeheim appear to be just fine. By reappearing in the field of 64, and doing it by starting a few freshmen, blue-chip recruits should still be interested in playing for Syracuse.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
6 of 10
2015-16 Results: Texas Tech had its first winning season since 2010 by going 19-12 and reaching the NCAA tournament as a No. 8 seed. The NCAA appearance is the first for the Red Raiders since 2007.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: The state of Texas is loaded in college basketball right now. Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor and Texas Tech all made the NCAA tournament, and SMU would have been in as well if it were allowed. That means the Red Raiders had to make a splash and win games to remain relevant in the local recruiting scene, and this tournament appearance is a huge step forward in making Texas Tech basketball a consistent force.
USC Trojans
7 of 10
2015-16 Results: After two seasons of head coach Andy Enfield, USC was at the bottom of the Pac-12. This season saw an 8.5-game turnaround to a 21-12 finish. The Trojans are a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament after a 9-9 finish in the Pac-12.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: It legitimizes Enfield as a Pac-12 coach and makes recruits notice USC is a year ahead of schedule of a team that mostly returns for next season. The Trojans have a chance to ascend up the Pac-12 with another strong year and continue building recruiting momentum, but this is a great start.
VCU Rams
8 of 10
2015-16 results: In his first season as head coach, Will Wade led the Rams to a 24-10 finish and 14-4 mark in the Atlantic 10. VCU advanced to the conference tournament championship game and finds itself as a No. 10 seed against Oregon State in the first round.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: By making the NCAA tournament bid in his first season, Wade is picking up where Shaka Smart left off, and that means the Rams' strong recruiting should continue. VCU has made the NCAA tournament in six consecutive seasons, and Wade can use that number as a recruiting tool.
Wisconsin Badgers
9 of 10
2015-16 results: The season was a crazy one for Wisconsin as Bo Ryan announced his sudden retirement on Dec. 16 and long-time assistant Greg Gard took control. Sitting at 9-9 on Jan. 12, the Badgers closed out strong to end the season 20-12 and at a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: When Gard took over, Wisconsin's season looked dead. But Gard was able to revive things quickly and land a five-year contract as head coach. The stability of Wisconsin getting back into the tournament, and Gard landing a deal, is a good look with recruits.
Xavier Musketeers
10 of 10
2015-16 Results: Xavier had one of the strongest seasons in school history as it finished 27-5 and 14-4 in the Big East. At a No. 2 seed in the 2016 NCAA tournament, Xavier has its highest seed in school history.
Why the Tourney Bid Helps: This isn't the first time Xavier has made the tournament or been successful, but now head coach Chris Mack has the Musketeers as a No. 2 seed and sitting among the nation's elite. That means Xavier should see itself involved with top-caliber players for a long time.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
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