Last year pre-conference UF beat two at large teams, St. Joe and UWVa, one on a neutral court, beat another tourney team, FGCU, and beat another power conference team in Ok State on a neutral court. UF was 2-0 against probably the best power conference. That is pretty comprable to beating SHU, Miami and say FGCU this year.
What UF did not do was win enough games over all or win at home down the stretch. I still believe UF deserved a bid over some teams that got in, but that 0-4 stretch in February including losing at home to a bad UAL team and Vandy to let them sweep UF did UF in.