We are here – Championship Week, that means that the first tickets will be punched this weekend to the Big Dance. If you haven’t been watching College Hoops, then now is the time to tune in. Small conferences playing their guts out to qualify for the tournament. It’s just fun, plus some great games to end the regular season.
Conference Championship Week Preview – Mid-Major Bids
Over the next 7 days, 12 tickets will be punched in the “Mid-Majors.” March Madness has already begun in these leagues. Here is the run down:
Ohio Valley (OVC)
The OVC really has a strong league, but 2 main teams should duke it out on Saturday. Murray State has the best player in the conference with JA Morant, but the Belmont Bruins took them down already this season. Belmont has been to the Dance many times, so unless some of the Bubble Teams falter, America may miss out on seeing Morant until the NBA. The first ticket to be punched on Saturday at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central on ESPN2.
Big South
Radford has been the class of the league all year, but the Campbell Camels have the nation’s leading scorer in Chris Clemons. I expect these 2 teams to battle it out for their ticket to the Dance on Sunday at 1 PM Eastern/12 Noon Central on ESPN.
Missouri Valley (MVC)
Known as Arch Madness in St. Louis, the MVC has produced good tournament teams from Wichita State back in the day and last year’s March Darling, Loyola Chicago. Can Sister Jean pray her Ramblers to another Tourney? Well, Drake has been great this year, and Loyola has not been the same with the bulls eye on their back this year. Hopefully, we will get a Drake-Loyola final on Sunday at 2:05 PM Eastern/1:05 PM Central on CBS.
Atlantic Sun (ASun)
The match up is not set for this one yet, but likely will be 2 good teams facing off in the Championship on Sunday: Lipscomb and Liberty – these two teams split in the regular season. Both teams are excellent. Lipscomb has been up there in the ratings, but Liberty has already beat them once. Should be a gem on Sunday at 3 PM Eastern/2 PM Central on ESPN.
Southern Conference (SoCon)
This could be the best league no one has heard of. There are 3 teams that can win this league between Furman, UNC Greensboro and Wofford. I believe Wofford should make the Dance even if they don’t win the tournament, as they went undefeated this year in conference (the only team besides Gonzaga in the country) and beat high major teams. Greensboro’s numbers are good, and Furman has slayed a dragon this year in Villanova. I would love to see Wofford lose and steal a bid from one of these middling power conference teams. We will have to wait until Monday to see at 7 PM Eastern/6 PM Central on ESPN.
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
Iona is on top here, but there are 4 other teams within one game of the top: Quinnipiac, Rider, Siena and Canisius. This tournament should be wide open, so it could be a good watch on Monday on ESPN2 at 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central.
Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)
The Hofstra Pride have been the class of the league, but they will not make the Dance without a tourney championship. Northeastern and Charleston are their biggest competition. Tuesday can’t come too fast for the Pride – 7 PM Eastern/6 PM Central – not televised currently.
Horizon League
The Wright State Raiders surprised the Norse of Northern Kentucky to grab a share of the league lead. Plus, there are some dangerous teams in this league. A classic one bid league will be a knockdown drag out to get to the Dance on Tuesday on ESPN at 7 PM Eastern/6 PM Central.
Northeast Conference (NEC)
One of the smaller conferences and a right to play in the First Four, St. Francis (PA) has been the best most of the season, but Farleigh Dickinson is tied for the league here, plus Robert Morris and Sacred Heart just one back. Only one can advance on Tuesday night on ESPN2 at 7 PM Eastern/6 PM Central.
Summit League
There is only one team to know here, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (one of my favorite mascots) and been to the Dance 4 out of the last 5 years. Mike Daum is a top scorer in the nation, but they still have to win the tournament. Nebraska-Omaha may be the only team to be able to knock off this perennial tournament team on Tuesday at 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central on ESPN2.
West Coast Conference (WCC)
The Zags are in the Dance, but can St. Mary’s or even San Francisco play their way in? I don’t think so, as Gonzaga has won the WCC Tourney every year since 2012. However, stranger things have happened. St. Mary’s needs a big win to make the field, maybe on Tuesday on ESPN at 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central.
Patriot League
Another quality tournament with 3 teams who can make the Dance – Bucknell has been to the tournament 2 straight years, so they are the favorite. However, Colgate is tied for 1st and won 21 games this year. Plus, Lehigh has been to the Dance and won a game in 2012. Wednesday this ticket will be punched on CBS Sports Network 7:30 PM Eastern/6:30 PM Central.
Major Conference Weekend Games to Watch
ACC
#3 Duke at #5 UNC – Saturday, 3/9 at 6 PM Eastern/5 PM Central on ESPN – It’s a rematch of the Zion shoe debacle. Can Duke get Zion back? Will UNC destroy them again? I like a closer game this time, but without Zion, Heels will win again.
Big Ten
#6 Michigan at #8 Michigan State – Saturday, 3/9 at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central on ESPN – Purdue still has a shot at the Big Ten title, but this is really the title game. Sparty won in Ann Arbor just days ago. The Wolverines want revenge, and Sparty lost at IU this past weekend. Should be a great match up.
AAC
#8 Houston at #23 Cincinnati – Sunday, 3/10 at 12 Noon Eastern/11 AM Central on CBS — The top 2 teams in the conference tangle again. Cougars won at home last time with a late game defensive run to close out the Bearcats. Cincy is rugged and will make Houston earn this one, if they are to win.
Bracketology
Joe Lunardi (JL)
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology
Jerry Palm (JP)
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/bracketology/
Who’s In/Out? Texas – In (JL)/Out (JP), NC State – In (JL)/Out (JP), TCU Out (JL)/In (JP) and Furman Out (JL)/In (JP).
Seed Differences: Washington – 8 (JL)/10 (JP), Iowa State – 5 (JL)/7 (JP), Auburn 6 (JL)/8 (JP), LSU 4 (JL)/2 (JP), Seton Hall – 12 (JL)/10 (JP), Iowa 9 (JL)/7 (JP) and Lunardi has Kentucky as a 1 Seed, while Palm has Tennessee instead.
Ken Pom
Top 5:
- UVA – Seemingly under-rated here at the top – I like them for the Final 4 this year.
- Zags – This team is incredible.
- Duke – Without Zion, I can’t see them staying up here.
- Michigan State – Why can’t this team beat Indiana? They beat everyone else.
- Michigan – Wolverines jump past the Heels this week, but they need to beat Sparty this week to stay here.
Over-rated Teams Per AP: Marquette 16th in AP (28 KP), Cincinnati 20th (31 KP), Central Florida 25th (35 KP) and Nova is 23rd (27 KP)
Under-rated Teams Per AP: Now, most of these teams are trending the wrong way, but Auburn 26th in AP (14 in KP), Louisville 32nd (21 KP), Iowa State 28th (18 KP) and Miss State 27th (22 KP).
Enjoy the Madness!!
Wegs