Last year, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier University Musketeers failed to earn NCAA Tournament bids - the first time in 36 years (since the 1984-85 season) that neither team participated in the Big Dance.
It could happen again this year if one or both teams don't get hot down the stretch.
On Tuesday, the Bearcats fell to 17-13 this season - 7-10 in the American Athletic Conference - with a 71-53 loss to Houston, UC's fourth consecutive loss and sixth in seven games. UC's regular-season finale is Thursday night at SMU, and they'll need to win the AAC tournament - March 10-13 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas - to earn the league's NCAA Tournament automatic bid.
Before last year, the Bearcats hadn't missed the NCAA Tournament since the 2009-10 season, when they were in the Big East under head coach Mick Cronin.
Xavier's 81-66 loss Wednesday night at St. John's was its fifth consecutive defeat, and seventh in eight games. The Musketeers are 17-12 overall, 7-11 in the Big East. XU wraps up its regular season at home Saturday night against Georgetown. The Hoyas are 0-18 in the conference this season.
Xavier likely will be on the bubble for an at-large bid even with a win against Georgetown, needing a strong showing at the Big East tournament March 9-12 at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
The Musketeers haven't made the Big Dance since Travis Steele took over as head coach before the 2018-19 season, though there was no postseason held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
UC and XU also missed consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 1984 and 1985.
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