These Dayton veterans have no business being there this year.

The Knights lost in the NEC Championship game, yet advanced due to an unjust rule preventing Merrimack, which beat the Knights in the conference title contest, from participating during its transition to Division I.

The Tigers may be even less deserving, though.

Despite being one of three teams in NCAA Tournament history to reach this stage with at least 20 losses, Texas Southern (14-20) validated a subpar season with three good days, winning the SWAC Tournament as an eighth-seed.

Though the Tigers have won in Dayton the past two years, this group’s 330th-ranked offense can’t be counted on to keep up with the Knights’ balanced and efficient attack.