Every season there seems to be one team that despite all of its accomplishments in the regular season seems fated by circumstance to possible NCAA tournament exclusion. One team that looks like it may be in that unfortunate situation is Appalachian State, who finished the season with a 25-7 (15-3) record which was good for first place in North Division of the Southern Conference.

Led by competent senior point guard D.J. Thompson and UVa transfer Donte Minter, App St. sports some major victories against surefire NCAA teams like regular season ACC Champion Virginia and CAA Champs VCU. They also dealt conference rival Davidson (who won the SoCo tourney and the conference’s automatic bid) their only conference loss of the season. To be fair, they also had some three ugly early losses, but these occurred in the absence of Minter who was not eligible to play at the time.

Unfortunately for teams in smaller conferences, it comes down to conference tournament performance more times than not and after suffering an 89-87 defeat to the College of Charleston in the SoCo semifinals there is very real reason to worry about the Mountaineers’ bubble chances.

If any borderline small conference team deserves to be in the tourney, Appalachian State is it. And if there is any justice in the world (I’m doubting this after Haley Scarnatto advanced to the final 12 of American Idol, but I digress) somehow, someway the selection committee will find a way to get them in.