FAYETTEVILLE — Despite a 12-18 record, Arkansas’ women’s basketball team may still make a postseason tournament.
The Razorbacks seem to be in line for an automatic bid to the Women’s NIT as the SEC’s top finisher to miss the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas was eliminated from the SEC Tournament with a 68-51 loss to Tennessee on Thursday.
All nine teams ahead of Arkansas in the SEC standings are projected by ESPN to make the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn, one of ESPN’s “Last Four In,” beat Missouri Thursday, possibly solidifying its spot in the tournament, while Tennessee strengthened its resume with the win over Arkansas.
The other seven teams have at least 21 wins and appear in good shape to make the tournament.
Unlike the men’s NIT, which only awards automatic bids to teams that win their conference’s regular-season championship and don’t make the NCAA Tournament, the WNIT awards automatic bids to all 32 conferences.
Each automatic bid goes to the team with the best conference record that didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas was the No. 10 seed in the SEC Tournament after finishing with a regular-season conference record of 7-9.
The WNIT bracket will be announced March 14, following the NCAA Tournament selection show.