Quote Originally Posted by GoneGolfin View Post
_ "Stolen" bids are auto bids won by teams in multi-bid leagues that otherwise would not qualify for the field of 64. Conference tournament play is now complete with respect to these bids.

Bolded teams indicate that these teams may have qualified for an at-large bid and thus may not constitute a stolen bid.

Stolen bids ...
- Illinois State (MVC) ... but only if Wichita State receives an at-large bid.
- Lamar (SLC) ... but only if Texas State (or possibly SLU) receives an at-large bid (their resume is not nearly as strong as the Cajuns').
- Southern Mississippi (CUSA)
- Florida International (Sun Belt)
- Mercer (ASun) ... but only if Florida Gulf Coast receives an at-large bid.
- St. John's (Big East)

Thus, we have a minimum of three stolen bids (Illinois State, St. John's, Southern Mississippi), with potentially two more (Lamar, Mercer) depending on whether or not Texas State and Florida Gulf Coast make the field respectively. Finally, we will never truly know whether FIU is a stolen bid ... but probably so.

This year has the real potential to exceed the average of 3.2 stolen bids over the past five years.

Brian _
Update and minor correction ...

This year, we had three stolen bids. I consider Florida International to be one, St. John's to be the second, and Southern Mississippi to be the third.

Illinois State did not steal a bid because the MVC (Wichita State) was a one bid league.
Lamar did not steal a bid because the Southland (Texas State) was a one bid league.
Mercer did not steal a bid because the Atlantic Sun (Florida Gulf Coast) was a one bid league.

Brian