Conference Tourney Update
By Bruce Marshall
Ready or not, March is almost upon us, which means the college hoops season is entering its home stretch. Which also means that we're just a week away from the earliest conference tournaments kicking off.
So, it's time to take a look at the lower-echelon Division I leagues and their tourney action, most of which takes place a week before the "big boys" tip it off in the Big East, ACC, Big Ten, and other major conferences. More than ever, it's worthwhile to pay attention to some of the leagues (in particular the Southern Conference, Ohio Valley, and Metro-Atlantic) that will likely be sending multiple teams to postseason events, especially now that the CBI (College Basketball Invitational) and CIT (CollegeInsider.com Tourney) have provided landing spots for an extra 32 teams beyond the Big Dance and NIT. And even for the lesser leagues that don't send multiples of teams to the NIT, CBI, or CIT, it's a good idea to at least get a feel for the conference tourney champions, and the wagering opportunity which they will provide as 14, 15, or 16 seeds in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. We'll continue with more conference tournament previews over the next two weeks leading up to our Big Dance sub-regional edition March 14.
Many of these entries from the lower-echelon leagues are not as mysterious as they used to be; indeed, we got a good look at several of them in last weekend's Bracket Busters. Most sports books in Las Vegas, Reno and offshore post lines on "added" games from the Metro-Atlantic, Big Sky, and SoCon during the course of the regular season. And, as we were reminded again a year ago with the likes of Murray State, College of Charleston, Appalachian State, many of the better teams from the lower-echelon leagues can "survive and advance" beyond the first round of the Big Dance or other events. In March, we'll be paying attention to a variety of entries that could cause problems in the Big Dance, NIT, or one of the other postseason events.
We've listed below, by conference alphabetical order, upcoming tournament specifics for those lower-profile Division I leagues. Also included are any teams that enjoy home-court tourney edges; the top contenders in each loop, noted by italics, with any clear-cut favorite or co-favorite accompanied by an *; and last season's conference results in the NCAA, NIT, CBI, and CIT. Before Selection Sunday, we'll also review how these leagues have fared in recent Big Dance action.
March Madness...it's almost here!
AMERICA EAST...First round, quarterfinals, and semis March 3-6 at Chase Arena, West Hartford, CT (home court of Hartford); final March 12 at home of highest remaining seed. Top contenders-Vermont*, Boston U, Maine. Last year...NCAA-Vermont lost vs. Syracuse, 79-56; NIT-Stony Brook lost vs. Illinois, 76-66; CIT-Boston U won vs. Oregon State, 96-78; won vs. Morehead State, 91-89; lost vs. Virginia Commonwealth, 88-73.
ATLANTIC SUN...Tourney March 2-5 at University Center, Macon, GA (home court of Mercer). Top contenders-Belmont*, East Tennessee State, Jacksonville, Lipscomb, Mercer. Last year...NCAA-East Tennessee State lost vs. Kentucky, 100-71; NIT-Jacksonville won vs. Arizona State, 67-66; lost vs. Texas Tech, 69-64.
BIG SKY...First round (3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5) March 5 at home of higher-seeded team; regular-season champ (Montana, Northern Colorado, or Weber State) will host semifinals and final March 8-9. Top contenders-Montana, Northern Colorado, Weber State, Northern Arizona. Portland State is ineligible because of NCAA sanctions for low APR scores. Last year...NCAA-Montana lost vs. New Mexico, 62-57; NIT-Weber State lost vs. Cincinnati, 76-62; CIT-Northern Colorado won vs. Portland, 81-73; lost vs. Pacific, 63-59.
BIG SOUTH...Quarterfinals March 1 at home of highest seed; semis March 3 at regular-season champion Coastal Carolina; finals March 5 at home of highest-remaining seed. Top contenders-Coastal Carolina, Liberty, UNC-Asheville, Charleston Southern. Presbyterian ineligible until 2011-12 season as it transitions to Division I. Last year...NCAA-Winthrop lost play-in game vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 61-44; NIT-Coastal Carolina lost vs. UAB, 65-49.
METRO ATLANTIC...Tourney March 4-7 at Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT. First round pits seeds 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9; winners advance to quarterfinals, and so forth. Top contenders-Fairfield, Rider, Iona, St. Peter's, Loyola-MD. Last year...NCAA-Siena lost vs. Purdue, 72-64; CIT-Fairfield won vs. George Mason in OT, 101-96; lost vs. Creighton, 73-55.
MEAC...Tourney March 8-12 at Lawrence Joel Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC. First round pits seed 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9; winners advance to quarterfinals, and so forth, Top contenders-Bethune-Cookman, Morgan State, Coppin State, Hampton. Last year...NCAA-Morgan State lost vs. West Virginia, 77-50.
NORTHEAST...Quarterfinals March 3, semis March 6, final March 9, all at home of highest seeds. Top contenders-Long Island, Quinnipiac, Central Connecticut, Robert Morris. Last year...NCAA-Robert Morris lost vs. Villanova in OT, 73-70; NIT-Quinnipiac lost vs. Virginia Tech, 81-61.
OHIO VALLEY...Tourney March 2-5 at Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN (not the home court of Nashville-based Tennessee State, which plays its games at the Gentry Complex). Top contenders-Morehead State, Murray State, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech. Last Year...NCAA-Murray State lost vs. Vanderbilt, 66-65; lost vs. Butler, 54-52; CBI-Morehead State won vs. Colorado State, 74-60; lost vs. Boston U, 91-89; Eastern Kentucky lost vs. College of Charleston, 82-79.
PATRIOT...Quarterfinals March 2, semifinals March 6, final March 11, all at home of higher seed. Top contenders-Bucknell, American U, Lehigh. Last Year...NCAA-Lehigh lost vs. Kansas, 90-74.
SOUTHERN...Tourney March 3-7 at McKenzie Arena, Chattanooga, TN (home court of Chattanooga). Top contenders-College of Charleston, Western Carolina, Wofford, Furman, Chattanooga. Last year...NCAA-Wofford lost vs. Wisconsin, 53-49; CBI-College of Charleston won vs. Eastern Kentucky, 82-79; lost vs. Virginia Commonwealth, 93-86; CIT-Appalachian State won vs. Harvard, 93-71; won vs. Marshall, 80-72 lost vs. Pacific, 64-56; Western Carolina lost vs. Marshall, 90-88.
SOUTHLAND...Tourney March 9-12 at Merrell Center, Katy, TX. Top contenders-McNeese State, Texas State, Stephen F. Austin, Northwestern State. Last Year...NCAA-Sam Houston State lost vs. Baylor, 68-59.
SWAC...Tourney March 9-12 at Special Events Center, Garland, TX. Top contenders-Texas Southern, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Alabama A&M. Last year...NCAA-Arkansas Pine-Bluff won play-in game vs. Winthrop, 61-44; lost vs. Duke, 73-44; NIT-Jackson State lost vs. Mississippi State, 81-67.
SUMMIT...Tourney March 5-8 at Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls, SD (not the home court of nearby, Brookings-based South Dakota State, which plays its home games at Frost Arena). The Summit League was formerly known as Mid-Continent Conference; Centenary ineligible. Top contenders-Oakland*, IUPUI, Oral Roberts, IPFW, South Dakota State. Last year...NCAA-Oakland lost vs. Pittsburgh, 89-66; CBI-IUPUI won vs. Hofstra, 74-60; lost vs. Princeton in double-OT, 74-68.