We had a nice taste of March Madness last week, but now we are full throttle with the rest of the tickets punched between Wednesday and Sunday before Selection Sunday.

Conference Tournament Week – Part 2

With only 5 bids punched so far – Murray State (OVC), Longwood (Big South), Loyola Chicago (MVC), Georgia State (Sun Belt), and Chattanooga (SoCon). There will be 27 more automatic bids punched starting tonight (Tuesday, 3/8) – see who will be playing for their bid in my article last week.

College Hoops: Let the Madness Begin

Here is a rundown of who will fight to keep dancing:

Small and Mid-Majors:

  • Colonial (CAA) – Started, Saturday, 3/5 with Final on Tuesday, 3/8 – Towson was the top dog here, but got knocked off in the Semis, so Delaware or UNC Wilmington will earn the bid.
  • American East (AmEast) – Started Sunday, 3/6 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – Vermont (26-5, 17-1 in AmEast) is the class of this league, but UMBC (17-13, 11-7 in AmEast) is always pesky.
  • Conference USA (C-USA) – Starts on Tuesday, 3/8 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – North Texas (23-5, 16-2 in C-USA) is a team that could make the field if they lose, but better not to take any chances. UAB (24-7, 14-4 in C-USA) has had its moments, too.
  • Metro Athletic Conference (MAAC) – Starts Tuesday, 3/8 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – Iona (25-6, 17-3 in MAAC) is riding high with Coach Rick Pitino at the helm, but Iona must win the tourney to get in.
  • Big West – Starts Tuesday, 3/8 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – This year Long Beach State (18-11, 12-3 in Big West) is the regular season champ, but teams like the Zots of UC Irvine could spoil their bid.
  • Western Athletic Conference (WAC) – Starts Tuesday, 3/8 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – The New Mexico State Aggies (24-6, 14-4 in WAC) are not quite as good as they have been in the past, but they should be win this one.
  • Big Sky – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – Montana State (24-7, 16-4 in Big Sky) is the leader in this league, but who knows.
  • Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – Alcorn State (15-15, 14-4 in SWAC) has been there before, but they need to win their tournament before entering the main field.
  • Mid-Eastern Conference (MEAC) – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – Norfolk State (21-6, 12-2 in MEAC) should punch the ticket and probably play in the First Four.
  • Southland – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Sunday, 3/13 – The Southland has a lot of fun teams. Nicholls State (21-10, 11-3 in Southland) is the team to watch, but whoever wins will be a 16 seed.
  • Mid-American (MAC) – Starts Thursday, 3/10 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – The MAC has some tough teams in the Rockets (25-6, 17-3 in MAC) of Toledo and Kent State (21-9, 16-4 in MAC).
  • Ivy League – Starts on Saturday, 3/12 with Final on Sunday, 3/13 – The Ivy League only has Semis, so one of these teams will Dance – (1) Princeton (22-5, 12-2 in Ivy), (2) Yale (17-11, 11-3 in Ivy), (3) Penn (12-15, 9-5 in Ivy) or (4) Cornell (15-10, 7-7 in Ivy).

High Majors:

Can Tshiebwe and Kentucky Take the SEC Tourney and 1 Seed?
  • ACC – Starts Tuesday, 3/8 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – The ACC is down this year with really only 5 teams of consequence. Duke (26-5, 16-4 in ACC) is the cream of the crop, but UNC (23-8, 15-5 in ACC) did score a big win in Coach K’s finale. Lunardi and Palm have Wake Forest (23-8, 13-7 in ACC), and Notre Dame (22-9, 15-5 in ACC) in – I have Miami out, so barring a miracle, it won’t be a great year from the ACC.
  • Big 12 – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – The Big 12 has at least 3 real contenders to win the big title – Kansas (25-6, 14-4 in Big 12), Baylor (26-5, 14-4 in Big 12) and Texas Tech (23-8, 12-6 in Big 12) – so definitely one to watch for the Big Dance.
  • Mountain West (MWC) – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – This conference has had its ups and downs, but this year it is loaded – Boise State (24-7, 15-3 in MWV), Colorado State (22-4, 14-4 in MWC), and San Diego State (21-7, 13-4 in MWC) all should be in the Dance with Wyoming (see below) and even UNLV (18-13, 10-8 in MWC) able to earn their way in if things fall right. Should be a fun tournament to watch.
  • PAC 12 – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – Arizona (28-3, 18-2 in PAC 12) is a real contender to win the NCAA Title, but UCLA (23-6, 15-5 in PAC 12) and USC (25-6, 14-6 in PAC 12) are also very good teams that will qualify. Now, last year a team that shocked the world was Oregon State that won the tournament and made it to the Elite Eight. Could Oregon (18-13, 11-9 in PAC 12) or some other team make such a run?
  • Big East – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – Providence (24-4, 14-3 in Big East) has won the regular season by winning close game after close game. Ed Cooley should be Coach of the Year, however Villanova (23-7, 16-4 in Big East) is a better team, while UConn (22-8, 13-6 in Big East) has great guard play, and even Seton Hall (20-9, 11-8 in Big East) has been streaking. The winner of the tournament is a mystery.
  • SEC – Starts Thursday, 3/10 with Final on Saturday, 3/12 – The SEC has at least 2 real Title Contenders in the Big Dance – Kentucky (25-6, 14-4 in SEC) and Auburn (27-4, 15-3 in SEC). It is one conference tournament not to miss. They should get 6 teams in with possibly a 7th if Florida can make a deep run.
  • Atlantic 10 (A10)- Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Sunday, 3/13 – The A10 is a bit down this year, but Davidson (25-5, 15-3 in A10) is not a shoe in to be in the Big Dance if they can’t win this tournament. The Bonnies (20-8, 12-5 in A10), Flyers (22-9, 14-4 in A10) and VCU (21-8, 14-4 in A10) all can win this one.
  • American Athletic Conference (AAC) – Starts Thursday, 3/10 with Final on Sunday, 3/13 – Not as deep as past years, but Houston (26-5, 15-3 in AAC) is the top dog, yet Memphis (19-9, 13-5 in AAC) has beaten them twice and have won 10 of their last 11 games. Smart money would pick Memphis to take them out again if they play again Sunday.
  • Big Ten – Starts Wednesday, 3/9 with Final on Sunday, 3/13 – Wisconsin (24-6, 15-5 in B10) and Illinois (22-8, 15-5 in B10) share the regular season crown, but really there are about 4 or even 5 teams who can win this one. Up to 9 teams can make it, but none are a 1 Seed.

Bubble Watch

Here are the team that need a good week to continue their season if they don’t win one of the remaining 27 tournaments:

  • Indiana (18-12, 9-11 in B10) – KP 44, Net 44 – The Hoosiers are on the wrong side of the Bubble, so I think they need to get to the Semis at least and a win over one of the Top 4 would really help in the B10 Tourney.
  • Rutgers (18-12, 12-9 in B10) – KP 72, Net 76 – What does Rutgers have to do to be respected? Look at this list of dogs, and they are above .500 in a tough league with a solid record. They should get in.
  • SMU (22-7, 13-4 in AAC) – KP 57, Net 49 – Need to make the AAC Finals.
  • Wyoming (24-7, 13-5 in MWC) – KP 56, Net 48 – The Cowboys are very talented, but they are a classic Bubble case
  • Dayton (22-9, 14-4 in A10) – KP 46, Net 52 – Need to reach the A10 Finals to have a shot.
  • VCU (21-8, 14-4 in A10) – KP 63, Net 51 – Needs to beat Dayton to reach the A10 Finals.
  • VA Tech (19-12, 11-9 in ACC) – KP 29, Net 37 – Classic Bubble team here – if the ACC was stronger, then sure, but this is a weak conference. I think they have to get to the Semis and maybe the Finals to get in.
  • Florida (19-12, 9-9 in SEC) – KP 54, Net 54 – Florida may be fighting for Coach Mike White’s job in this one.
  • Xavier (18-12, 8-11 in Big East) – KP 51, Net 36 – Xavier is on a down hill slide for the last 3 weeks. If they can’t get to the Semis, then forget it, and I think the Final.
  • Creighton (20-10, 12-7 in Big East) – KP 69, Net 66 – Creighton has been a bit of a mystery great in some games, but not consistent. They need to knock off one of the Top 3 in the Big East to punch a ticket.
  • Oregon (18-13, 11-9 in PAC 12) – KP 80, Net 74 – Coach Altman’s team has not performed consistently, but now it’s March. He is a great coach, and maybe they can dazzle in their conference tournament.

If you want to do well in your Pool next week, then your prep starts today. Have fun with it.

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.