Updated brackets for every conference tournament (including every major conference tournament) are now available at Bubbleteams.com along with new conference tournament previews and updated scores.
Colonial:
NC Wilmington holds off Hofstra to capture the CAA Championship.
At the Richmond Coliseum
Richmond, Va.
FIRST ROUND
Friday, March 3
Game 1: No. 9 Delaware 52, No. 8 Drexel 49
Game 2: No. 5 Northeastern 74, No. 12 James Madison 56
Game 3: No. 10 Georgia State 72, No. 7 Towson 64
Game 4: No. 6 VCU 62, No. 11 William & Mary 59
QUARTERFINALS
Saturday, March 4
Game 5: No. 1 UNC Wilmington 69, No. 9 Delaware 56
Game 6: No. 5 Northeastern 71, No. 4 Old Dominion 63
Game 7: No. 2 George Mason 61, No. 10 Georgia State 56, OT
Game 8: No. 3 Hofstra 72, No. 6 VCU 66
SEMIFINALS
Sunday, March 5
Game 9: No. 1 UNC Wilmington 69 No. 5 Northeastern 54
Game 10: No. 3 Hofstra 58, No. 2 George Mason 49
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, March 6
Game 11: No. 1 UNC Wilmington 78, No. 3 Hofstra 67
MAAC:
Iona dominates St. Peter's to capture the MAAC title.
Pepsi Arena
Albany, N.Y.
FIRST ROUND
Friday, March 3
Game 1: No. 5 Saint Peter's 80, No. 10 Rider 51
Game 2: No. 7 Niagara 84, No. 8 Fairfield 77
Game 3: No. 9 Canisius 74, No. 6 Loyola, Md. 72
SECOND ROUND
Saturday, March 4
Game 4: No. 5 Saint Peter's 63, No. 4 Siena 62
Game 5: No. 2 Iona 80, No. 7 Niagara 54
Game 6: No. 3 Marist 68, No. 9 Canisius 62
SEMIFINALS
Sunday, March 5
Game 7: No. 5 Saint Peter's 84, No. 1 Manhattan 74
Game 8: No. 2 Iona 100 No. 3 Marist 84
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, March 6
Game 9: No. 2 Iona 80, No. 5 Saint Peter's 61
Mid American:
All four higher seeds held home court with Toledo, Buffalo, Western Michigan and Ohio advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
FIRST ROUND
At higher seeds
Monday, March 6
Game 1: No. 7 Toledo 77, No. 10 Bowling Green 52
Game 2: No. 6 Western Michigan 60, No. 11 Eastern Michigan 55
Game 3: No. 8 Buffalo 80, No. 9 Ball State 72
Game 4: No. 5 Ohio 82, No. 12 Central Michigan 53
QUARTERFINALS
At Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland
Thursday, March 9
Game 5: No. 2 Northern Illinois vs. No. 7 Toledo, 12 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Akron vs. No. 6 Western Michigan, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: No. 1 Kent State vs. No. 8 Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Game 8: No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 Ohio, 9:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 10
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 11
Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Mid-Continent:
Chicago State upsets number 2 seed IUPUI to advance to their first Mid-Continent title game against Oral Roberts..
At John Q. Hammons Arena
Tulsa, Okla.
FIRST ROUND
Saturday, March 4
Game 1: No. 1 Oral Roberts 60, No. 8 Western Illinois 53
Game 2: No. 2 IUPUI 69, No. 7 Oakland 63
Sunday, March 5
Game 3: No. 4 Valparaiso 77 No. 5 Southern Utah 66
Game 4: No. 6 Chicago State 75,No. 3 UMKC 66
SEMIFINALS
Monday, March 6
Game 5: No. 1 Oral Roberts 77, No. 4 Valparaiso 58
Game 6: No. 6 Chicago State 57, No. 2 IUPUI 53
CHAMPIONSHIP
Tuesday, March 7
Game 7: No. 1 Oral Roberts vs. No. 6 Chicago State, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Sun Belt:
South Alabama advances to the tournament final to face Western Kentucky.
At the Murphy Center
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
FIRST ROUND
Friday, March 3
Game 1: W4 New Orleans 76, E5 Florida International 56
Game 2: E4 Arkansas-Little Rock 72, W5 North Texas 55
Game 3: W6 Troy 107, E3 Arkansas State 83
QUARTERFINALS
Sunday, March 5
Game 4: W3 Denver 58, E2 Middle Tennessee 57
Game 5: E1 Western Kentucky 80, W4 New Orleans 61
Game 6: W1 South Alabama 78, E4 Arkansas-Little Rock 53
Game 7: W2 Louisiana-Lafayette 62, E3 Arkansas State 59, OT
SEMIFINALS
Monday, March 6
Game 8: W1 South Alabama 75, W3 Denver 65
Game 9: E1 Western Kentucky 80, W2 Louisiana-Lafayette 72
CHAMPIONSHIP
Tuesday, March 7
Game 10: W1 South Alabama vs. E1 Western Kentucky, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
West Coast:
Gonzaga wins the WCC title with a one point victory against Loyola Marymount.
At McCarthey Athletic Center
Spokane, Wash.
FIRST ROUND
Friday, March 3
Game 1: No. 5 San Diego 85, No. 8 Pepperdine 72
Game 2: No. 7 Santa Clara 72, No. 6 Portland 68
QUARTERFINALS
Saturday, March 4
Game 3: No. 5 San Diego 62, No. 4 San Francisco 59
Game 4: No. 3 Saint Mary's 76, No. 7 Santa Clara 72, OT
SEMIFINALS
Sunday, March 5
Game 5: No. 1 Gonzaga 96, No. 5 San Diego 92, OT
Game 6: No. 2 Loyola Marymount 66, No. 3 Saint Mary's 63
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, March 6
Game 7: No. 1 Gonzaga 68, No. 2 Loyola Marymount 67
Monday, March 06, 2006
Bubble Wrap 3/06/06
Tonight provides a light lineup of bubble action. The most meaningful game is in the Colonial Conference where two bubble teams square off for the automatic bid. The bigger question is what happens to the loser... at-large bid or NIT? The MAAC and WCC warp up their conference tournament and all bubble eyes will be on Gonzaga. At this point in the week, no bubble team wants the Bulldogs to lose their conference tournament and "steal" a bid away from someone on the bubble. Check back periodically for updates and check out Bubbleteams.com for updated scores, conference tournament brackets, tournament previews and an updated NCAA Tournament bracket.
NC Wilmington: The Seahawks avoid the nervousness of having to wait to see their name announced on Selection Sunday with a win over Hofstra in the CAA title game. The Seahawks built a 23-point lead and held on to win by 11.
Hofstra: The Pride must now wait and see if their 24 wins (including two against fellow bubble team, George Mason) and top 30 RPI is enough to earn them an at-large bid out of the CAA. The NCAA Selection Committee has historically rewarded teams with a high RPI, yet in this season of uncertainty (and with the Pride's lack of any real quality wins), a bid is very much in question.
Iona: The Gaels dispatch St. Peter's handily to tae the MAAC Tournament title and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs gave many a bubble team cause for concern with a close one-point victory over Loyola Marymount for the WCC Tournament title. Gonzaga played yet another game close to the vest, getting themselves behind by 13 in the second half before surging ahead by 5 with under 4 minutes left in the game and holding on to win when the Lions missed a last second layup down one in the final seconds.
NC Wilmington: The Seahawks avoid the nervousness of having to wait to see their name announced on Selection Sunday with a win over Hofstra in the CAA title game. The Seahawks built a 23-point lead and held on to win by 11.
Hofstra: The Pride must now wait and see if their 24 wins (including two against fellow bubble team, George Mason) and top 30 RPI is enough to earn them an at-large bid out of the CAA. The NCAA Selection Committee has historically rewarded teams with a high RPI, yet in this season of uncertainty (and with the Pride's lack of any real quality wins), a bid is very much in question.
Iona: The Gaels dispatch St. Peter's handily to tae the MAAC Tournament title and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs gave many a bubble team cause for concern with a close one-point victory over Loyola Marymount for the WCC Tournament title. Gonzaga played yet another game close to the vest, getting themselves behind by 13 in the second half before surging ahead by 5 with under 4 minutes left in the game and holding on to win when the Lions missed a last second layup down one in the final seconds.
Conference Tournament Previews 3/06/06-(MAC, MEAC, Mountain West, Southland)
We are continuing to post the conference tournament previews from our other website here.
Visit Bubbleteams.com to view the other conference tournament previews and updated conference tournament brackets.
Mid-American:
FIRST ROUND
At higher seeds
Monday, March 6
Game 1: No. 7 Toledo vs. No. 10 Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 6 Western Michigan vs. No. 11 Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Game 3: No. 8 Buffalo vs. No. 9 Ball State, 7 p.m.
Game 4: No. 5 Ohio vs. No. 12 Central Michigan, 7 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
At Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland
Thursday, March 9
Game 5: No. 2 Northern Illinois vs. Game 1 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Akron vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: No. 1 Kent State vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.
Game 8: No. 4 Miami vs. Game 4 winner, 9:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 10
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 11
Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Recap: The Mid American Conference was a league comprised of imbalance this season. The top three teams in the Eastern Division finished conference play with 14 or more wins, led by conference champion Kent State. In addition, Akron and Miami of Ohio tied for second place with 14 wins each. The top three teams in the Eastern Division finished the conference campaign 22-2 against teams from the Western Division. All six teams from the Eastern Division were a combined 36-12 against their counterparts from the west. In addition, there were five teams from the Eastern Division with at least 16 overall wins while only two teams from the Western Division could muster at most 16 wins. In the West, two teams struggled all season to find the winning formula as Eastern Michigan only won three games and Eastern Michigan only won once. This year the conference tournament includes all 12 teams, one less than last year after former MAC member Marshall bolted to Conference USA.
Favorite: Kent State dominated the conference schedule, outlasting the second and third place teams, Akron and Miami (Ohio). The Golden Flash won seven road games in the MAC, tops amongst all member schools. Kent State did not win a single game by less than four points and won their seven road games by an average of nine points per game. Kent State will be challenged Akron, despite the Zips' slump down the stretch which saw them lose three of their last five games. Akron does get the benefit of playing on the side of a bracket that is populated almost entirely of Western Division teams. Despite their late season struggles, look for the Zips to advance to the title game where they will likely face the winner of Kent State and Miami (Ohio). Miami (Ohio) fashioned a 6-0 start to conference play and a 9-1 finish around an 0-3 stretch in late January that ultimately cost them the conference title. The RedHawks lost twice to Kent State and once to Akron and Western Michigan. Northern Illinois gets the 2 seed because of their first place finish in the Western Division. The Huskies played well against their own division, finishing with a 9-1 mark against their fellow Western Division teams. Unfortunately, Northern Illinois only managed three wins against teams from the East (none of those coming against the top three teams in the East).
Darkhorse: Toledo enters league play with six wins in their last seven games. The Rockets are the ONLY Western Division team to have defeated Kent State (demolishing the Golden Flash 60-44 in early February). Toledo gets a favorable 7 seed and draws the worst team from the East, Bowling Green. The Rockets will be tested by the Falcons, given Bowling Green already beat Toledo once this season (59-52 at Bowling Green). If the Toledo gets past the Falcons, they face 2 seed Northern Illinois. It is unlikely that any team from the West can get very far in this tournament, unless it is through another Western Division team.
MEAC:
At the RBC Center
Raleigh, N.C.
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 7
Game 1: No. 7 Norfolk State vs. No. 10 Maryland-Eastern Shore, 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 8 North Carolina A&T vs. No. 9 Howard, 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 8
Game 3: No. 6 Hampton vs. No. 11 Morgan State, 6 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
Wednesday, March 8
Game 4: No. 1 Delaware State vs. Game 2 winner, 8:15 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 Coppin State vs. Game 1 winner, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 9
Game 6: No. 3 Bethune-Cookman vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 7: No. 4 South Carolina State vs. No. 5 Florida A&M, 8:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 10
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 8:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 11
Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN Classic)
Recap: Delaware State blew through the MEAC winning 16 of 18 league games. The Hornets only two losses came at South Carolina State (63-51) and at Bethune-Cookman (72-71). Delaware State was one of only two teams in the MEAC to finish with an overall winning record (Bethune-Cookman finished 15-14). The Hornets played a brutal non-conference schedule with games at UCLA, Kent State, Rutgers, Northwestern, Michigan, Bradley, Marquette and Maryland (the Hornets also had a neutral site game against Wichita State). Delaware State played their first home game on December 30 against Buffalo. The MEAC had four teams (North Carolina A&T, Howard, Maryland-Eastern Shore and Morgan State) that did not win more than seven games. Even worse, three of those teams suffered through losing streaks of 13 games or more (Morgan State started the season 0-18, NC A&T started the season 0-13 and Howard lost 14 in a row from December 30 to February 20).
Favorite: Delaware State proved they are the class of the league after blowing the competition away with 16 conference wins. The Hornets also scored a solid non-conference win at MAC regular season champion Kent State. The Hornets will be challenged in the semifinals by either South Carolina State or Florida A&M. Despite their overwhelming number of victories, the Hornets' margin of victory was not overwhelming in a majority of their wins (Delaware State only won two games by more than 11 points). Anticipate a tight tournament after the top teams weed out the bottom feeders in the opening rounds.
Darkhorse: South Carolina State was one of only two conference teams to defeat Delaware State during the regular season. The Bulldogs beat the Hornets by eleven at home and only lost by 6 points at Delaware State. South Carolina State must get past Florida A&M in the semifinals before they face Delaware State (assuming the Hornets beat the winner of Howard-NC A&T).
Mountain West:
At The Pepsi Center
Denver
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 7
Game 1: No. 8 Colorado State vs. No. 9 TCU, 9:30 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
Thursday, March 9
Game 2: No. 1 San Diego State vs. Game 1 winner, 2 p.m. (ESPN Full Court)
Game 3: No. 4 UNLV vs. No. 5 New Mexico, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN Full Court)
Game 4: No. 2 Air Force vs. No. 7 Wyoming, 9 p.m. (ESPN Full Court)
Game 5: No. 3 BYU vs. No. 6 Utah, Midnight (ESPN)
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 10
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner 9 p.m. (ESPN Full Court)
Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Midnight (ESPN)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 11
Game 8: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Recap: San Diego State started the season as the favorite to win the Mountain West Conference. A series of injuries and tough losses left the Aztecs 7-5 entering conference play. The Aztecs found their magic touch, winning nine of their first 10 conference games and creating a lead that was just too much for the rest of the conference to overcome. Air Force won their last six game to push the Aztecs in the race for the conference title, but a 6-4 conference start was too much for the Falcons to overcome. BYU surprised many people with a 12-4 conference record and a second place finish. The Cougars won 10 of their last 11 games after starting the season 2-3 in conference. BYU was one of only three teams to defeat San Diego State and by season's end, the Cougars had fashioned yet another long home court winning streak (14 in a row heading into post-season). In fact, the top three teams in the league finished an astounding 23-1 at home in conference games.
Favorite: BYU is the league hottest team, San Diego State won a league leading six road games and Air Force enters the tournament on a six game winning streak. While all three have a solid chance to claim the league championship, Air Force is still the toughest tam to beat in the Mountain West. Their style of play, coupled with a deliberate pace of play make beating the Falcons a challenge to almost any team. The Falcons have the misfortune to face Wyoming (beat the Falcons at Wyoming and lost by one at Air Force) in the first round and possibly BYU in the second round. Air Force will not have an easy road to the title game.
Darkhorse: Wyoming would be good first pick based on how tough they played Air Force during the regular season (beating the Falcons at home by 5 and losing at Air Force by one), yet the Cowboys enter the tournament with nine losses in their last ten games and look like a team ready for the season to end. Utah faces the same fate with four losses in their last five games. Colorado State finally found some of the winning touch in their last six games that led the Rams to an 11-2 start to the season. New Mexico has shown the same problems winning on the road that have plagued the Lobos in the past (New Mexico won only two conference games, at Colorado State and TCU; the two worst teams in the conference). Amazingly, we find no one as a darkhorse from the Mountain West.
Southland:
At higher seeds
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 7
Game 1: No. 1 Northwestern State vs. No. 8 Texas-San Antonio
Game 2: No. 4 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 5 McNeese State, 8 p.m.
Game 3: No. 2 Sam Houston State vs. No. 7 Texas-Arlington
Game 4: No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana vs. No. 6 Lamar
SEMIFINALS
Thursday, March 9
Game 5: Highest seed vs. lowest seed, 8 p.m.
Game 6: Second-highest seed vs. second-lowest seed, 8 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, March 12
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Recap: Northwestern State dominated the Southland Conference, winning fifteen of their league 16 games. The Demons only conference loss came at Sam Houston State. Northwestern State was one of only three teams to lose just one conference game this season. The Demons, undefeated at home this season, will retain home court advantage throughout the entire tournament. Northwestern State played one of the most demanding non-conference schedules this season with games at Missouri, at Mississippi State, at Wichita State, at Oklahoma State, at Texas A&M, at Utah State, at Hawaii and neutral site games against Oregon State and Iowa State. The Demons won three of those games (against Oregon State, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State) and lost five others by less than ten points. Sam Houston State was the closest competition to Northwestern State in the conference race-finishing four games in back of Northwestern State at 11-5 in the Southland.
Favorite: Northwestern State is a prohibitive favorite to win their first Southland Conference Tournament title since 2001. The Demons, with home court advantage throughout the tournament, were so dominant on their home court this season only two teams came within 8 points in their 11 home games.
Darkhorse: SE Louisiana enters the conference tournament on a streak of eight wins in their last nine games. The Lions only defeat in that stretch was an 3 point loss in overtime at Sam Houston State. SE Louisiana plays in the bottom half of the bracket, avoiding Northwestern State until the championship game. The Lions were in a similar situation last season, scoring an upset at Northwestern State in the championship game.
Visit Bubbleteams.com to view the other conference tournament previews and updated conference tournament brackets.
Mid-American:
FIRST ROUND
At higher seeds
Monday, March 6
Game 1: No. 7 Toledo vs. No. 10 Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 6 Western Michigan vs. No. 11 Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Game 3: No. 8 Buffalo vs. No. 9 Ball State, 7 p.m.
Game 4: No. 5 Ohio vs. No. 12 Central Michigan, 7 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
At Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland
Thursday, March 9
Game 5: No. 2 Northern Illinois vs. Game 1 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Akron vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: No. 1 Kent State vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.
Game 8: No. 4 Miami vs. Game 4 winner, 9:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 10
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 11
Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Recap: The Mid American Conference was a league comprised of imbalance this season. The top three teams in the Eastern Division finished conference play with 14 or more wins, led by conference champion Kent State. In addition, Akron and Miami of Ohio tied for second place with 14 wins each. The top three teams in the Eastern Division finished the conference campaign 22-2 against teams from the Western Division. All six teams from the Eastern Division were a combined 36-12 against their counterparts from the west. In addition, there were five teams from the Eastern Division with at least 16 overall wins while only two teams from the Western Division could muster at most 16 wins. In the West, two teams struggled all season to find the winning formula as Eastern Michigan only won three games and Eastern Michigan only won once. This year the conference tournament includes all 12 teams, one less than last year after former MAC member Marshall bolted to Conference USA.
Favorite: Kent State dominated the conference schedule, outlasting the second and third place teams, Akron and Miami (Ohio). The Golden Flash won seven road games in the MAC, tops amongst all member schools. Kent State did not win a single game by less than four points and won their seven road games by an average of nine points per game. Kent State will be challenged Akron, despite the Zips' slump down the stretch which saw them lose three of their last five games. Akron does get the benefit of playing on the side of a bracket that is populated almost entirely of Western Division teams. Despite their late season struggles, look for the Zips to advance to the title game where they will likely face the winner of Kent State and Miami (Ohio). Miami (Ohio) fashioned a 6-0 start to conference play and a 9-1 finish around an 0-3 stretch in late January that ultimately cost them the conference title. The RedHawks lost twice to Kent State and once to Akron and Western Michigan. Northern Illinois gets the 2 seed because of their first place finish in the Western Division. The Huskies played well against their own division, finishing with a 9-1 mark against their fellow Western Division teams. Unfortunately, Northern Illinois only managed three wins against teams from the East (none of those coming against the top three teams in the East).
Darkhorse: Toledo enters league play with six wins in their last seven games. The Rockets are the ONLY Western Division team to have defeated Kent State (demolishing the Golden Flash 60-44 in early February). Toledo gets a favorable 7 seed and draws the worst team from the East, Bowling Green. The Rockets will be tested by the Falcons, given Bowling Green already beat Toledo once this season (59-52 at Bowling Green). If the Toledo gets past the Falcons, they face 2 seed Northern Illinois. It is unlikely that any team from the West can get very far in this tournament, unless it is through another Western Division team.
MEAC:
At the RBC Center
Raleigh, N.C.
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 7
Game 1: No. 7 Norfolk State vs. No. 10 Maryland-Eastern Shore, 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 8 North Carolina A&T vs. No. 9 Howard, 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 8
Game 3: No. 6 Hampton vs. No. 11 Morgan State, 6 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
Wednesday, March 8
Game 4: No. 1 Delaware State vs. Game 2 winner, 8:15 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 Coppin State vs. Game 1 winner, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 9
Game 6: No. 3 Bethune-Cookman vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 7: No. 4 South Carolina State vs. No. 5 Florida A&M, 8:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 10
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 8:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 11
Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN Classic)
Recap: Delaware State blew through the MEAC winning 16 of 18 league games. The Hornets only two losses came at South Carolina State (63-51) and at Bethune-Cookman (72-71). Delaware State was one of only two teams in the MEAC to finish with an overall winning record (Bethune-Cookman finished 15-14). The Hornets played a brutal non-conference schedule with games at UCLA, Kent State, Rutgers, Northwestern, Michigan, Bradley, Marquette and Maryland (the Hornets also had a neutral site game against Wichita State). Delaware State played their first home game on December 30 against Buffalo. The MEAC had four teams (North Carolina A&T, Howard, Maryland-Eastern Shore and Morgan State) that did not win more than seven games. Even worse, three of those teams suffered through losing streaks of 13 games or more (Morgan State started the season 0-18, NC A&T started the season 0-13 and Howard lost 14 in a row from December 30 to February 20).
Favorite: Delaware State proved they are the class of the league after blowing the competition away with 16 conference wins. The Hornets also scored a solid non-conference win at MAC regular season champion Kent State. The Hornets will be challenged in the semifinals by either South Carolina State or Florida A&M. Despite their overwhelming number of victories, the Hornets' margin of victory was not overwhelming in a majority of their wins (Delaware State only won two games by more than 11 points). Anticipate a tight tournament after the top teams weed out the bottom feeders in the opening rounds.
Darkhorse: South Carolina State was one of only two conference teams to defeat Delaware State during the regular season. The Bulldogs beat the Hornets by eleven at home and only lost by 6 points at Delaware State. South Carolina State must get past Florida A&M in the semifinals before they face Delaware State (assuming the Hornets beat the winner of Howard-NC A&T).
Mountain West:
At The Pepsi Center
Denver
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 7
Game 1: No. 8 Colorado State vs. No. 9 TCU, 9:30 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS
Thursday, March 9
Game 2: No. 1 San Diego State vs. Game 1 winner, 2 p.m. (ESPN Full Court)
Game 3: No. 4 UNLV vs. No. 5 New Mexico, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN Full Court)
Game 4: No. 2 Air Force vs. No. 7 Wyoming, 9 p.m. (ESPN Full Court)
Game 5: No. 3 BYU vs. No. 6 Utah, Midnight (ESPN)
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 10
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner 9 p.m. (ESPN Full Court)
Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Midnight (ESPN)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 11
Game 8: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Recap: San Diego State started the season as the favorite to win the Mountain West Conference. A series of injuries and tough losses left the Aztecs 7-5 entering conference play. The Aztecs found their magic touch, winning nine of their first 10 conference games and creating a lead that was just too much for the rest of the conference to overcome. Air Force won their last six game to push the Aztecs in the race for the conference title, but a 6-4 conference start was too much for the Falcons to overcome. BYU surprised many people with a 12-4 conference record and a second place finish. The Cougars won 10 of their last 11 games after starting the season 2-3 in conference. BYU was one of only three teams to defeat San Diego State and by season's end, the Cougars had fashioned yet another long home court winning streak (14 in a row heading into post-season). In fact, the top three teams in the league finished an astounding 23-1 at home in conference games.
Favorite: BYU is the league hottest team, San Diego State won a league leading six road games and Air Force enters the tournament on a six game winning streak. While all three have a solid chance to claim the league championship, Air Force is still the toughest tam to beat in the Mountain West. Their style of play, coupled with a deliberate pace of play make beating the Falcons a challenge to almost any team. The Falcons have the misfortune to face Wyoming (beat the Falcons at Wyoming and lost by one at Air Force) in the first round and possibly BYU in the second round. Air Force will not have an easy road to the title game.
Darkhorse: Wyoming would be good first pick based on how tough they played Air Force during the regular season (beating the Falcons at home by 5 and losing at Air Force by one), yet the Cowboys enter the tournament with nine losses in their last ten games and look like a team ready for the season to end. Utah faces the same fate with four losses in their last five games. Colorado State finally found some of the winning touch in their last six games that led the Rams to an 11-2 start to the season. New Mexico has shown the same problems winning on the road that have plagued the Lobos in the past (New Mexico won only two conference games, at Colorado State and TCU; the two worst teams in the conference). Amazingly, we find no one as a darkhorse from the Mountain West.
Southland:
At higher seeds
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 7
Game 1: No. 1 Northwestern State vs. No. 8 Texas-San Antonio
Game 2: No. 4 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 5 McNeese State, 8 p.m.
Game 3: No. 2 Sam Houston State vs. No. 7 Texas-Arlington
Game 4: No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana vs. No. 6 Lamar
SEMIFINALS
Thursday, March 9
Game 5: Highest seed vs. lowest seed, 8 p.m.
Game 6: Second-highest seed vs. second-lowest seed, 8 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, March 12
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Recap: Northwestern State dominated the Southland Conference, winning fifteen of their league 16 games. The Demons only conference loss came at Sam Houston State. Northwestern State was one of only three teams to lose just one conference game this season. The Demons, undefeated at home this season, will retain home court advantage throughout the entire tournament. Northwestern State played one of the most demanding non-conference schedules this season with games at Missouri, at Mississippi State, at Wichita State, at Oklahoma State, at Texas A&M, at Utah State, at Hawaii and neutral site games against Oregon State and Iowa State. The Demons won three of those games (against Oregon State, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State) and lost five others by less than ten points. Sam Houston State was the closest competition to Northwestern State in the conference race-finishing four games in back of Northwestern State at 11-5 in the Southland.
Favorite: Northwestern State is a prohibitive favorite to win their first Southland Conference Tournament title since 2001. The Demons, with home court advantage throughout the tournament, were so dominant on their home court this season only two teams came within 8 points in their 11 home games.
Darkhorse: SE Louisiana enters the conference tournament on a streak of eight wins in their last nine games. The Lions only defeat in that stretch was an 3 point loss in overtime at Sam Houston State. SE Louisiana plays in the bottom half of the bracket, avoiding Northwestern State until the championship game. The Lions were in a similar situation last season, scoring an upset at Northwestern State in the championship game.
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