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Southern Conference:
At North Charleston Coliseum
North Charleston, S.C.
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, March 2
Game 1: No. 8 Appalachian St. vs. No. 9 Wofford, 3;30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 7 Western Carolina vs. No. 10 UNC Greensboro, 6 p.m.
Game 3: No. 6 Furman vs. No. 11 The Citadel, 8:30 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
Friday, March 3
Game 4: No. 1 Georgia Southern vs. Game 1 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 5: No. 4 College of Charleston vs. No. 5 Chattanooga, 2:30 p.m.
Game 6: No. 2 Elon vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 7: No. 3 Davidson vs. Game 3 winner, 8:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, March 4
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 2:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, March 5
Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Recap: The Southern Conference experienced a slight downturn this season, exemplified by the first place team (and tournament #2 seed) Elon Phoenix. The Phoenix won the Northern Division of the Southern Conference with a 10-4 conference record. Unfortunately, the Phoenix did not find as much success in their non-conference games, finishing 14-13 overall. In fact, the only Division 1 non-conference team Elon defeated was Clemson. Much greater fortune was found in the South Division, where the Georgia Southern Eagles finished 11-4, 20-8 overall; earning the Eagles a 1 seed in the conference tournament. The Eagles were the only Southern Conference team to lose less than ten games, marking a poor overall season for Southern teams.
Favorite: Georgia Southern is a slight favorite to win the conference tournament, despite having to face either Wofford or Appalachian State, each winners against the Eagles during the regular season. Should Georgia Southern advance past their quarterfinal round game, they would have to face either Chattanooga, winners of eight of their last 11 games and defending conference champions, or host team College of Charleston. The road seems to be a difficult one for Georgia Southern to claim the conference crown this season. Instead, we will go with Davidson as this year's tournament favorite. Despite a sub-par season, the Wildcats have prepared themselves for this year's tournament with a solid non-conference schedule and a decent showing in the conference standings. Davidson is looking to erase the bad memories of last seasons disappointing semifinal loss, after posting a perfect 16-0 conference record.
Darkhorse: College of Charleston would be a solid choice as tournament darkhorse, given the historic difficulty of having to play in Charleston Coliseum. Unfortunately, this season, the Cougars seemed to lack some bite when facing opponents in their own arena, losing to Georgia Southern and Davidson at home. Instead, we will go way off the board and jump on the Wofford Terriers as our darkhorse for the Southern Conference Tournament. The Terriers won at Appalachian State and split with Georgia Southern this season (losing by 16 on the road and winning by 16 at home). The only drawback to picking the Terriers is the prospect of having to win four games in four days, but that's why they call teams like Wofford a darkhorse!
Atlantic Sun:
At Memorial Center
Johnson City, Tenn.
QUARTERFINALS
Thursday, March 2
Game 1: No. 1 Lipscomb vs. No. 8 Mercer, 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 4 Gardner-Webb vs. No. 5 East Tennessee State, 3:30 p.m.
Game 3: No. 2 Belmont vs. No. 7 Campbell, 7 p.m.
Game 4: No. 3 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 6 Stetson, 9:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 3
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 9:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 4
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Recap: Belmont and Lipscomb shared the A-Sun regular season title with identical 15-5 conference records. The Belmont Bruins won nine of their last 10 games to catch the Lipscomb Bisons. The Atlantic Sun experienced a resurgence and rejuvenation this season, as two provisional Division 1 members, Kennesaw and North Florida, joined he league. Each team played a full league schedule and Kennesaw would have qualified for a 6 seed in the conference tournament if not for them being ineligible for postseason play.
Favorite: It would be a challenge to differentiate between either regular season champion as a favorite. Belmont is one of the hottest teams in the league, winning nine of their last ten games. Lipscomb has the tougher draw, having to face either Gardner-Webb, the only team to defeat Belmont in their last ten games, or the East Tennessee State Buccaneers-the host team for the conference tournament. The Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, winners of ten of their last 12 games, overcame a slow start to the conference race to finish in fourth place, just a game ahead of the Buccaneers.
Darkhorse: East Tennessee State would hardly be considered a darkhorse, given that they are the host team this year for the conference tournament. Unfortunately, a late season four game losing streak dropped the Bucs down to fifth place; leaving the prospect of having to defeat Gardner-Webb and possibly Lipscomb, both teams they lost to at home during the regular season. The best choice for a possible darkhorse is the Stetson Hatters. Stetson enters the conference tourney having won eight games in a row and eleven of their last 12. The Hatters upset Lipscomb, Gardner-Webb and East Tennessee State; losing only to potential second round opponent Belmont. The Hatters are playing their best ball of the season right now and they seem to be on a roll that might carry them all the way to the NCAA Tournament.
Missouri Valley Conference:
At Savvis Center
St. Louis, Mo.
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, March 2
Game 1: No. 8 Drake vs. No. 9 Indiana State, 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 7 Evansville vs. No. 10 Illinois State, 9:30 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
Friday, March 3
Game 3: No. 1 Wichita State vs. Game 1 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Creighton vs. No. 5 Bradley, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 Southern Illinois vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Missouri State vs. No. 6 Northern Iowa, 9:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, March 4
Game 7: Winners of Games 3 and 4, 2:30 p.m.
Game 8: Winners of Games 5 and 6, 5 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, March 5
Game 9: Winners of Games 7 and 8, 2 p.m.
Recap: The Missouri Valley Conference has been the topic of many a discussion this season in college basketball. The MVC has six teams that are vying for at-large tournament bids, making for what should be a fantastic conference tournament. Northern Iowa was the league leader until a late season four game losing streak dropped the Panthers from first place to sixth place. The Bradley Braves turned around their midseason misfortune by winning nine of their last 11 games and finishing in a tie for fifth place. The Creighton Blue Jays played solid basketball all season, finishing 12-6 in conference and 12-6 overall. Southern Illinois turned around their early season difficulties with an eleven game winning streak. Amazingly, despite losing four of their last seven conference games, the Salukis finished in a tie for second place just two games behind regular season champion Wichita State. The Shockers dominated the regular season of the Missouri Valley Conference finishing 14-4. Considering the depth of this season's league and the number of potential NCAA Tournament teams, Wichita State has completed as fine of a season as any in recent MVC memory.
Favorite: Wichita State is a slight favorite over the remainder of the MVC field. Given the strength and consistency of the Shockers' play this season, it would be foolhardy to not consider them a favorite for the MVC Tournament title. However, one team left unmentioned has the best draw and possibly the best chance to make it all the way to the title game and claim an elusive NCAA Tournament berth. Missouri State has won seven of their last eight league games, finishing in a tie for second place and earning the 3 seed in the conference tournament. The Bears play the slumping Northern Iowa Panthers in the first round. Hardly an east foe, but given the Panthers' troubles lately, one of the more advantageous matchups of the first round. Should Missouri State get past Northern Iowa, they would face Southern Illinois in the semifinals. Once again the Bears would be facing a team just coming out of a losing streak. Given the Bears' recent success, we are confident that they just might have enough muscle to make it to the conference finals, yet again, where maybe this season, they can finally cut down the nets.
Darkhorse: Indiana State had one of the most unusual starts to any season in almost 20 years of college basketball. The Sycamores started the 2005 season with 8 straight wins, including an upset of the Indiana Hoosiers. A loss to Wichita State in their second Missouri Valley Conference game started what would become an 11 game losing streak. Indiana State had dug themselves into a hole and started the month of February with a 1-10 conference record. In what might be the most amazing moment of the Sycamores season, Indiana State ended their 11 game losing streak and simultaneously ended Southern Illinois' 33 game home winning streak (the nation's longest streak at the time). The Sycamores rebounded to win three of their next four games (including wins against Northern Iowa and Bradley) and finish ninth in the Missouri Valley. The Sycamores seemed to find some of the mojo from their early season success and we think that might translate into a few wins in the MVC Tournament. Indiana State does face a Drake team that defeated the Sycamores twice in the regular season. However, since their last win against Indiana State, Drake has lost 10 of their last 11 games and appears to mailing in the rest of this season. Should the Sycamores recapture the magic that they had to start the season they might just be lucky enough to bookend their 2005-06 campaign with a pair of winning streaks, except this one would carry them into the NCAA Tournament.
Northeast Conference:
Each game played at higher seed
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, March 2
Game 1: No. 1 Fairleigh Dickinson vs. No. 8 Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Central Connecticut vs. No. 7 Sacred Heart, 7 p.m.
Game 3: No. 3 Monmouth vs. No. 6 LIU-Brooklyn, 7 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Mount Saint Mary's vs. No. 5 Robert Morris, 7 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Sunday, March 5
Game 5: Highest seed vs. lowest seed
Game 6: Second-highest seed vs. second-lowest seed
CHAMPIONSHIP
Wednesday, March 8
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Recap: Fairleigh Dickinson was 3-2 in conference just five games into the Northeast Conference season and appeared to be stuck in neutral as the month of January pressed on. Suddenly the Knights caught fire and emerged as the best team in the conference, claiming the crown after winning 11 of their last 13 conference games. FDU even went on the road and won at Wisconsin-Green Bay on Bracket Buster Saturday. The Knights might have shared the league title with Central Connecticut State had the Blue Devils not lost three straight road games at the start of February. Wrapped around those three losses were separate five and six game winning streaks. Monmouth overcame a 1-7 start to their season to finish 11-5 in league play and in sole possession of third place. The Hawks never won more than three games in a row all season, yet won five road games in Northeast play.
Favorite: Fairleigh Dickinson and Central Connecticut State have been playing the best basketball since the start of the 2006 and must both be considered favorites to claim the Northeast Conference Tournament crown. While tournament favorites and regular season champions have fared well in the conference tournament, Fairleigh Dickinson must be careful to avoid the fate of last years #1 seed Monmouth, which lost in the semifinals at home to #6 seed Wagner.
Darkhorse: Since the Northeast Conference reseeds after each round (with the lowest remaining seed playing at the home gym of the highest remaining seed), finding a darkhorse in past seasons has proven difficult. We will stay close to the vest for our darkhorse this season and jump on the bandwagon of the Monmouth Hawks. The Hawks are the only team to have defeated Central Connecticut State twice this season. The Hawks also own an overtime win against Fairleigh Dickinson, ending the Knights' 11 game winning streak back on February 20. We are looking for Monmouth to avenge last season's disappointing finish and reclaim their spot in the Big Dance.
Big South:
FIRST ROUND
Each game played at higher seed
Tuesday, Feb 28
Game 1: No. 1 Winthrop vs. No. 8 Liberty, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 4 Radford vs. No. 5 High Point, 7 p.m.
Game 3: No. 2 Coastal Carolina vs. No. 7 UNC Asheville 7 p.m.
Game 4: No. 3 Birmingham-Southern vs. No. 6 Charleston Southern, 8 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
At Winthrop ColiseumRock Hill, S.C.
Thursday, March 2
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
CHAMPIONSHIP
Game played at higher seed
Saturday, March 4
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Recap: The start of the Big South Conference schedule had many pundits predicting the Winthrop Eagles would easily win the conference race (while more than a few projected the Eagles might even finish undefeated by season's end). In the end the Eagles did emerge on top of the conference standings, although not after a few surprises and a few shocking losses. Three teams (Winthrop, Birmingham Southern and Coastal Carolina) finished the conference schedule with 12 wins or more; a first in Big South Conference play. The conference also experienced some benefit from several notable upsets (highlighted by Winthrop's win at Marquette on November 19th). The conference finished in the top 20 RPI for the first time in the brief history of the Big South.
Favorite: The Winthrop Eagles are a tenuous favorite. bolstered by their having the benefit of playing home games through the conference finals. The Eagles did stumble at home once this season, losing to Coastal Carolina. The Eagles were 12-1 at home this season and are 28-1 at home since the start of the 2004-05 season. In addition, the Eagles closest margin of victory in their seven conference home wins was never less than 16 points. Their stellar home record and solid play for the majority of the 2005-06 campaign places Winthrop ahead of a very strong pack of contenders. The other two teams with strong chances to take the Big South title are the Birmingham Southern Panthers and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. The Panthers reeled of nine straight victories from early January through early February to take a brief lead in the Big South Conference race. The Chanticleers enter the conference tournament as the hottest team in the Big South, riding a ten game winning streak. Coastal Carolina entered their road game at Winthrop with a record of 4-9 (2-4 in conference). Coastal Carolina emerged with an improbable victory and a season sweep of Winthrop, after defeating the Eagles at home eleven days later. In addition, the Chanticleers have only won by less than seven points once during their winning streak.
Darkhorse: It would be hard to call Coastal Carolina a darkhorse, given their winning streak and their success against Winthrop this season. Yet, there is no team playing as well right now in the Big South as Coastal Carolina. Given Winthrop's dominance at home the past two seasons, it would appear the only team with the resume to challenge the Eagles is the Chanticleers.
Horizon League:
FIRST ROUND
Games played at higher seed
Tuesday, Feb. 28
Game 1: No. 6 Illinois-Chicago vs. No. 7 Wright State, 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 5 Detroit vs. No. 8 Cleveland State, 7 p.m.
Game 3: No. 4 Loyola-Chi. vs. No. 9 Youngstown State, 8 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
At The Klotsche Center
Milwaukee, Wis.
Friday, March 3
Game 4: No. 3 Wisconsin-Green Bay vs. Game 1 winner, 4:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, March 4
Game 6: No. 2 Butler vs. Game 4 winner, 4:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 7: No. 1 Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Game played at higher seed
Tuesday, March 7
Game 8: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Recap: Wisconsin-Milwaukee struggled to finish the conference season in first places, losing three of their last six conference games. The Panthers did finish on top of the league, but only after Detroit upset Butler on the last Saturday of league play.
Favorite: Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a slight favorite because the tournament is played on their home court and the Panthers earned a pass to the league semifinals based on their second place finish. In addition, all four teams that defeated UWM are in the lower half of the bracket. UWM will face a serious challenge from the Butler Bulldogs. Butler 9-3 in their last 12 games, split their two regular season games with the Panthers.
Darkhorse: Any darkhorse is likely to come from the lower half of the bracket of the conference tournament. Wisconsin-Green Bay earned the #3 seed on the basis of a tiebreaker of five teams, all with 8-8 records. Illinois-Chicago swept Wright State, defeated UWM and Wisconsin-Green Bay this season. Unfortunately, the Flames were swept by Butler during the conference season. If Wright State can get by Illinois-Chicago, the Raiders face three potential opponents which they have played tough all season.
Ohio Valley:
FIRST ROUND
Game played at higher seed
Tuesday, Feb. 28
Game 1: No. 1 Murray State vs. No. 8 UT-Martin, 8 p.m.
Game 2: No. 4 Jacksonville St. vs. No. 5 Eastern Kentucky, 8 p.m.
Game 3: No. 2 Samford vs. No. 7 Tennessee State, 8:30 p.m.
Game 4: No. 3 Tennessee Tech vs. No. 6 Austin Peay, 8:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
At The Gaylord Entertainment Center
Nashville, Tenn.
Friday, March 3
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 9:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
Recap: The Ohio Valley Conference boasted seven teams with winning conference records this season. The Samford Bulldogs experienced a resurgence, finishing with 14 conference wins and an overall record of 16-10. Murray State once again was the class of the league, finishing 17-3 in conference and 20-6 overall. Tennessee-Martin is the only conference team to enter the tournament with a losing record. The Ohio valley Conference is one of the few NCAA conferences that has its members play every other conference member twice. The tight constraints on scheduling typically allow OVC teams the opportunity to schedule very few non-conference games.
Favorite: Murray State is an obvious favorite, having posted just three losses in 20 conference games. The only two teams in the conference tournament to defeat the Racers are in the lower half of the bracket, giving Murray State a good chance to at least make it to the conference finals. Samford finished in second place, just ahead of Tennessee Tech. Both teams struggled as the conference schedule came to a close. The Bulldogs have lost four of their last six games, while the Eagles have dropped six of their last ten games.
Darkhorse: Austin Peay will be looking to repeat last year's tournament success (when they posted two straight upsets on their way to a championship game loss to Eastern Kentucky). The Governors have six losses of ten points or less during the conference schedule. Once again, Austin Peay faces the challenge of having to win at Tennessee Tech in the conference opener and then possibly face Samford in the conference semifinals.
We will post each conference tournament preview and schedule as the calendar progresses towards Championip Week.
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