Examining Merrimack's chances to win the NEC and make the NCAA Tournament

Photo: Merrimack Athletics

This could be a special March for the Merrimack men's basketball team.

Not only do the Warriors have a chance to add another Northeast Conference championship to their shelf, but thanks to their strong performance overall and where they sit in the NET rankings, the Warriors would likely avoid a play-in game as part of the "First Four" if they won the NEC's auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament.

It looks pretty likely, barring a collapse, that the Warriors would pass straight through to the Round of 64. Most projection models would have them as a No. 15 seed instead of a No. 16 seed.

There's a lot of basketball between now and then, but they've set themselves up perfectly. They have to get over the finish line.