Automatic Qualifiers, March 8th

(Conf. Tourney Seed)Team, Conference, (Projected Seed ) 

(2)Belmont, Atlantic Sun, (15)

(1)Winthrop, Big South, (11)

Pennsylvania, Ivy, (14)

(2)Creighton, Missouri Valley, (10)

(2)Eastern Kentucky, Ohio Valley, (16)

(1)Davidson, Southern, (12)

(1)Virginia Commonwealth, Colonial, (11)

(2)Niagara, Metro Atlantic, (15)

(1)Gonzaga, West Coast, (13)

(1)Wright State, Horizon, (13)

(1)Oral Roberts, Mid-Continent, (14)

(5)North Texas, Sun Belt, (16)

(1)Central Connecticut State, Northeast, (16)

(1)Weber State, Big Sky, (16)

Central Connecticut State74, Sacred Heart 70

The Blue Devils (21-11) play in a 3,200-seat gym, dress only nine players, have just one player who was recruited by another major school — and they’ll be the only team from the Nutmeg state in the NCAA Tournament this season.

March 7th matchups

Atlantic 10 First Round

(8)Dayton 81, (9) Charlotte 63 F

(5)Fordham vs. (12)Richmond

(6)St. Joseph’s vs. (11)Temple

(7)St. Louis vs. (10)Duquesne

Big East First Round

(8)DePaul vs. (9)Villanova

(5)Syracuse vs. (12)Connecticut

(6)Marquette vs. (11)St. John’s

(7)West Virginia vs. (10)Providence

Big West First Round

(6)CS Northridge vs. (7)Pacific

(5)Cal-Irvine vs. (8)Cal-Riverside

Conference USA First Round

(8)Marshall vs. (9)UAB

(5)Tulsa vs. (12)East Carolina

(6)Southern Miss vs. (11)SMU

(7)Rice vs. (10)UTEP

MAC First Round

(8) Eastern Michigan vs. (9)Ball State

(5)Ohio vs. (12)Bowling Green

(6)Western Michigan vs. (11)Northern Illinois

(7)Central Michigan vs. (10)Buffalo

MEAC First Round

(6)Norfolk State vs. (11)Maryland-Eastern Shore

Mountain West Quarterfinals

(1)BYU vs. (8)TCU

(4)Air Force vs. (5)Wyoming

(3)San Diego State vs. (6)Colorado State

(2)UNLV vs. (7) Utah

Northeast Championship

(1)Central Connecticut State vs. (2)Sacred Heart

Pac 10 First Round

(8)California vs. (9)Oregon State

(7)Washington vs. (10)Arizona State

SWAC Quarterfinals

(1)Mississippi Valley State vs. (8)Alabama State

(4)Alcorn State vs. (5)Texas Southern

(3)Grambling vs. (6)Arkansas-Pine Bluff

(2)Jackson State vs. (7)Southern

WAC Quarterfinals

(1)Nevada vs. (9)Idaho

(4)Utah State vs. (5)Hawaii

(3)Fresno State vs. (6)Boise State

(2)New Mexico State vs. (7)Louisiana Tech

Automatic Qualifiers, March 7th

(Conf. Tourney Seed)Team, Conference, (Projected Seed ) 

(2)Belmont, Atlantic Sun, (15)

(1)Winthrop, Big South, (11)

Pennsylvania, Ivy, (14)

(2)Creighton, Missouri Valley, (10)

(2)Eastern Kentucky, Ohio Valley, (16)

(1)Davidson, Southern, (12)

(1)Virginia Commonwealth, Colonial, (11)

(2)Niagara, Metro Atlantic, (15)

(1)Gonzaga, West Coast, (13)

(1)Wright State, Horizon, (13)

(1)Oral Roberts, Mid-Continent, (14)

(5)North Texas, Sun Belt, (16)

North Texas 83, Arkansas St. 75

Calvin Watson hit six 3-pointers and scored 24 points to help North Texas get to its first NCAA tournament since 1988 with an 83-75 victory over Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship on Tuesday night.

Wright St. 60, (19) Butler 55

DeShaun Wood scored 27 points and Will Graham hit four free throws in the last 12 seconds to lead the Raiders past No. 19 Butler 60-55 Tuesday night for the Horizon League postseason title and its second trip to the NCAA tournament.

Oral Roberts 71, Oakland 67

Ken Tutt banked in a jumper with 31.6 seconds left as Oral Roberts beat Oakland 71-67 on Tuesday night to win the Mid-Continent Conference tournament title and automatic NCAA bid for the second straight year.

Atlantic 10 Tourney Preview

Every bubble team in America is watching the Xavier Musketeers with bated breath.  If Xavier loses on the way to the Atlantic 10 championship, this presumed one bid league will take a Florida State or Kansas State out of the tourney.

Favorite- Xavier is the odds on favorite.  Their NCAA hopes are assured due to strong victories over Villanova, Illinois, and Kansas State.  Winning the conference tournament could move them into a top 6 seed.

Dark Horse- UMASS lost their first Atlantic 10 game of the season to Xavier early in the conference schedule.  That game stayed close until the last 10 minutes where Xavier took over down the stretch.  Look for the Musketeers to make the Championship Game if not take the title.

Player To Watch- Will Daniels of Rhode Island. The 6’8” junior is the key to a Rams’ run in the tourney.

Premier Matchup- Xavier vs. UMASS

Prediction- In a close hard fought game, Xavier takes the Atlantic 10 Championship from UMASS.

March 6th Matchups

Big Sky Semifinals

(1)Weber State vs. (4) Portland State

(2) Northern Arizona vs (3) Montana

Horizon Championship 

(1) Wright State vs. (2) Butler

MEAC First Round

(7) Hampton vs. (10) Howard

(6) Norfolk St. vs. (11) Maryland- Eastern Shore

(8) Coppin St. vs. (9) Bethune-Cookman

Mid Continent Championship 

(1) Oral Roberts vs. (2) Oakland

Mountain West First Round

(8) TCU vs. (9) New Mexico

Sun Belt Championship

(5) North Texas vs. (2) Arkansas State

WAC First Round

(8) San Jose State vs. (9) Idaho

NIT

I haven’t talked about the Not Invited Tourney yet, but some rule changes should make it relevant once again.  First, the field has been trimmed down from 40 to 32.  Secondly, matchups and TV considerations no longer have a bearing on team selection.  There were times that the NIT was as real as American Idol.  Lastly, all conference regular season champions that do not make the NCAA tournament automatically qualify for the NIT.  This means you South Alabama, East Tennessee State, Austin Peay, etc.  Have fun playing at Michigan and Ole Miss.