OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Usually mid-major college basketball programs need to win their conference tournament in order to reach March Madness, but that won’t be the case in Sunday’s Summit League Championship Game.
Omaha men’s basketball will play in the title game having already punched their ticket to their first Div. I NCAA Tournament, thanks to a little-known technicality.
The Mavericks opponent, St. Thomas, is still in its probationary period since elevating to a Division One program in 2021 and is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. If the Tommies were to win the Summit League Tournament, the conferences automatic bid would go to its regular season champion.
Omaha secured its first Summit League regular season title in last weekend’s win over Oral Roberts.
So when the Mavs tip off against the Tommies at 8:00pm on Sunday, there will still be a Summit League Tournament title on the line—but not a trip to the Big Dance.
TICKET. PUNCHED.
For the first time in program history, #Omaha men’s basketball has clinched a berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship 🎟️
Next 🆙: The Summit League Championship Final vs. #2 St. Thomas tomorrow, March 9 at 8 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network in… pic.twitter.com/kdYyCNGrUn
— Omaha Mavericks (@omavs) March 9, 2025
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