NDSU Men’s Basketball Team’s History in the NCAA Tournament

For the first time in three years, the North Dakota State men's basketball team will not participate in the NCAA Tournament, but that doesn't mean we can't look back at the times that they did.

Since joining the Summit League in 2007, NDSU has made it to 'the big dance' three different times: 2009, 2014, and 2015.

In 2009, the Bison made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, taking on eventual Sweet-16er Kansas in the first round. The Jayhawks defeated the Bison by 10, 84-74.

The Bison wouldn't return to the NCAA Tournament until 2014, which ended up being their best showing in the tournament thus far. In the Round of 64, NDSU, a 12-seed, took on 5-seed Oklahoma and pulled off the upset, defeating the Sooners 80-75 in overtime. In the next round, NDSU couldn't get past San Diego State, losing by 19, 63-44.

NDSU returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2015, as a 15-seed. They were matched up against 2-seed Gonzaga in the Round of 64 and, though they put up a fight, the Bison lost by ten, 86-76. Gonzaga would march on until they were finally eliminated in the Elite Eight by eventual national champion Duke.

Though they weren't able to win this year's Summit League tournament and secure a spot in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, it shouldn't be long before we see the Bison 'dancing' again.

[Wikipedia]