Sunday, March 17, 2024

Final Championship Update: "Eye of the Tiger"

I didn't have time to post this morning, but Championship Week is complete!  We've reached March Christmas -- Selection Sunday.  Between yesterday and today, even more top seeds lost before they should have:

  • AAC 1-seed South Florida and 2-seed Florida Atlantic in the semifinals
  • ACC 1-seed North Carolina in the title game
  • Big 12 1-seed Houston in the title game
  • Big Ten 1-seed Purdue in the semifinals
  • Ivy League 1-seed Princeton in the semifinals

Today's song is Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," in honor of the Grambling Tigers' SWAC championship win, clinching the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

Here's what happened in yesterday's and today's action and what we have to look forward to:

  • In the AAC title game, 4-seed UAB toppled 11-seed Temple, 85-69, to clinch the Blazers' 17th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2022.
  • In the ACC championship, 10-seed NC State stole a bid by beating 1-seed North Carolina topped, 84-76.  The Wolfpack will be playing in their 29th NCAA Tournament and second in a row.
  • In the America East title game, 1-seed Vermont held off 2-seed UMass Lowell, 66-61, to clinch the Catamounts' 11th NCAA Tournament appearance and their second in a row.
  • In the A-10 title game, 6-seed Duquesne held off 5-seed VCU, clinching the Dukes' 6th NCAA Tournament appearance and first of my lifetime.  Their last appearance was in 1977!
  • In the Big 12 championship, 2-seed Iowa State dominated 1-seed Houston, 69-41.  The Cyclones will the be playing in their 23rd NCAA Tournament and third in a row.
  • In the Big East championship game, 1-seed UConn easily beat 3-seed Marquette, 73-57.  The Huskies -- who secured the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament -- will be playing in their 37th NCAA Tournament and fourth in a row.
  • In the Big Ten title game, 3-seed Illinois outlasted 5-seed Wisconsin, 93-87.  The Illini will be playing in their 4th NCAA Tournament and 4th in a row.
  • In the Big West title game, shit got crazy, as 4-seed Long Beach State upset 2-seed UC Davis, 74-70.  The Beach (f/k/a the 49ers) will be playing in their 10th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2012.
  • In the C-USA championship, 3-seed Western Kentucky topped 5-seed UTEP, 78-71. The Hilltoppers will be playing in their 24th NCAA Tournament and first since 2013.
  • In the Ivy League title game, 2-seed Yale scored the last five points of the game and got a bucket at the buzzer to beat 4-seed Brown, 62-61.  The Bulldogs will be playing in their 7th NCAA Tournament and first since 2022.
  • In the MAAC title game, 5-seed St. Peter's eked by 2-seed Fairfield, 66-63, clinching the Peacocks' 5th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2022 (when they became the first 15-seed to advance to the Elite Eight, beating Kentucky and Purdue on the way).
  • In the MAC championship, 2-seed Akron beat archrival 8-seed Kent State, 62-61, on two free throws with five seconds left.  The Zips will be playing in their 6th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2022.
  • In the MEAC title game, 4-seed Howard held off 6-seed Delaware State, 70-67.  The Bison will be playing in their 4th NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row.
  • In the Mountain West championship game, 6-seed New Mexico topped 5-seed San Diego State, 68-61  The Lobos will be playing in their 16th NCAA Tournament and first since 2014.
  • In the Pac-12 title game, 4-seed Oregon dropped 3-seed Colorado, 75-68.  The Ducks will be be playing in their 18th appearance and first since 2021.
  • In the SEC championship game, 4-seed Auburn crushed 6-seed Florida, 86-67.  The Tigers will be playing in their 13th NCAA Tournament and third in a row.
  • In the SWAC semis, 1-seed Grambling slayed the dragon, beating 3-seed Texas Southern, 75-66, to earn the Tigers their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
  • In the WAC semifinals, top seed Grand Canyon dominated 3-seed UT Arlington, 89-74, giving the Antelopes their 3rd NCAA Tournament berth and second in a row.
  • Here is how all the bubble teams fared in their conference tournaments:
    • Boise State (lost in Mountain West quarterfinals)
    • Cincinnati (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • Colorado (lost in Pac-12 title game)
    • Colorado State (lost in Mountain West semifinals)
    • Drake (MVC champ)
    • Florida Atlantic (lost in AAC semifinals)
    • Indiana State (lost in MVC title game)
    • Iowa (lost in Big Ten second round)
    • James Madison (Sun Belt champ)
    • Kansas State (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • McNeese (Southland champ)
    • Memphis (lost in AAC second round)
    • Michigan State (lost in Big Ten quarterfinals)
    • Mississippi State (lost in SEC semifinals)
    • Nebraska (lost in Big Ten semifinals)
    • Nevada (lost in Mountain West quarterfinals)
    • New Mexico (Mountain West champs)
    • Northwestern (lost in Big Ten quarterfinals)
    • Oklahoma (lost in Big 12 second round)
    • Oregon (Pac-12 champ)
    • Pittsburgh (lost in ACC semifinals)
    • Princeton (lost in Ivy League semifinals)
    • Providence (lost in Big East semifinals)
    • Seton Hall (lost in Big East quarterfinals)
    • South Florida (lost in AAC semifinals)
    • St. John's (lost in Big East semifinals)
    • Syracuse (lost in ACC second round)
    • TCU (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • Texas (lost in Big 12 second round)
    • Texas A&M (lost in SEC semifinals)
    • Texas Tech (lost in Big 12 semifinals)
    • Utah (lost in Pac-12 quarterfinals)
    • Villanova (lost in Big East quarterfinals)
    • Virginia (lost in ACC semifinals)
    • Wake Forest (lost in ACC quarterfinals)
Clinched automatic berths 
Here is your final list of the automatic bid winners (in parentheses is the NCAA tournament appearances for each school, including the bid just clinched and last NCAA Tournament appearance where applicable):
-AAC:  UAB (17; 2022)
-ACC:  NC State (29; 2023)
-America East:  Vermont (11; 2023)
-Atlantic 10:  Duquesne (6; 1977)
-Atlantic Sun:  Stetson (1)
-Big 12:  Iowa State (23; 2023)
-Big East:  UConn (37; 2023)
-Big Sky:  Montana State (6; 2023)
-Big South:  Longwood (2; 2022)
-Big Ten:  Illinois (34; 2023)
-Big West: Long Beach State (10; 2012)
-Coastal:  Charleston (7; 2023)
-Conference USA:  Western Kentucky (24; 2013)
-Horizon:  Oakland (4; 2011)
-Ivy League:  Yale (7; 2022)
-MAAC:  St. Peter's (5; 2022)
-MAC:  Akron (6; 2022)
-MEAC:  Howard (4; 2023)
-Missouri Valley:  Drake (7; 2023)
-Mountain West:  New Mexico (16; 2014)
-Northeast Conference:  Wagner (2; 2003)
-Ohio Valley:  Morehead State (9; 2016)
-Pac-12:  Oregon (18; 2021)
-Patriot League:  Colgate (7; 2003)
-SEC:  Auburn (13; 2023)
-Southern Conference:  Samford (3; 2000)
-Southland:  McNeese (3; 2002)
-Summit:  South Dakota State (7; 2022)
-Sun Belt:  James Madison (6; 2013)
-SWAC:  Grambling (1)
-WAC:  Grand Canyon (3; 2023)
-West Coast:  St. Mary's (13; 2023)

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Updated Championship Week Predictions: "May the Living Be Dead (In Our Wake)"

Yesterday gave us some close games and some upsets.  Once again, multiple high seeds -- including six 1-seeds! -- lost earlier than they should have:

  • AAC 3-seed Charlotte in the quarterfinals
  • Big Ten 4-seed Northwestern in the quarterfinals
  • Big West 1-seed UC Irvine in the semifinals
  • CUSA 1-seed Sam Houston State in the semifinals
  • MAAC 1-seed Quinnipiac in the semifinals
  • MEAC 1-seed Norfolk State and 2-seed North Carolina Central in the semifinals
  • Mountain West 1-seed Utah State in the semifinals
  • Pac-12 1-seed Arizona and 2-seed Washington State in the semifinals
  • SEC 1-seed Tennessee, 2-seed Kentucky, and 3-seed Alabama in the quarterfinals
  • WAC 2-seed Tarleton in the semifinals

Today, we have another 15 or so hours of college basketball to watch whilst pounding Guinness, beginning at 11 a.m. ET with the tip of the America East title game between Vermont and UMass Lowell and the first Ivy League semifinal game between Princeton and Brown, and continuing all the way to the end of the WAC title game between Grand Canyon and UT Arlington that tips off at 11:30 p.m. ET.  Thirteen (!) automatic bids will be clinched today, so buckle up for another drama-filled day of college basketball action.

Today's song is both relevant to Championship Week and St. Patrick's Day weekend.  With the number of top seeds that have been smote during the last few days -- before many of us get smote by Guinness, Smithwick's, Harp, and Jameson today and/or tomorrow -- I went with Celtic punk stalwarts Flogging Molly's "May the Living Be Dead (In Our Wake)."

Here's what happened in yesterday's action and what we have to look forward to:
  • In the ACC semifinals, 1-seed North Carolina topped 4-seed Pittsburgh, 72-65, and 10-seed NC State continued it's Cinderella run, surviving and advancing by beating 3-seed Virginia, 73-65 in OT.  When they face off tomorrow night in the title game, the Tar Heels are a lock for the NCAA Tournament and will be playing in their 53rd NCAA Tournament and first since 2022 (when they lost in the title game to Kansas), while the Wolfpack -- who need to win to get into the NCAA Tournament -- are playing for their 29th NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row.
  • In the Big 12 semifinals, top seed Houston crushed 4-seed Texas Tech, 82-59, and 2-seed Iowa State easily beat 3-seed Baylor, 76-62.  They'll meet tonight for the championship game.  Both teams are locks for the NCAA Tournament, and Houston will likely be a 1-seed, win or lose, and could be the overall 1-seed if they win.  The Cougars will be playing in their 25th NCAA Tournament and fourth in a row, while the Cyclones will the playing in their 23rd NCAA Tournament and third in a row.
  • In the Big East semis, 1-seed UConn ousted 5-seed St. John's, 95-90, and 3-seed Marquette finished off 7-seed Providence, 79-68.  They will face off tonight in the title game.  Both UConn and Marquette are locks for the NCAA Tournament.  The defending national champion Huskies are also likely a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament regardless of the result, and they'll be playing in their 37th NCAA Tournament and fourth in a row, while the Golden Eagles will be playing in their 36th NCAA Tournament and fourth in a row.
  • In the Big West semifinals, 4-seed Long Beach State upset 1-seed UC Irvine, 83-79, and 2-seed UC Davis nearly gave up a double-digit lead in the last four minutes before holding off 3-seed Hawaii, 68-65.  When they meet in tonight's championship game, the Beach (f/k/a the 49ers) will be seeking their 10th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2012, and the Aggies will be seeking their 2nd berth and first since 2017.
  • In the C-USA semis, 5-seed UTEP went on a huge second-half run to upset 1-seed Sam Houston State, 65-63, and 3-seed Western Kentucky dumped on 7-seed Middle Tennessee State, 85-54.  When they play this evening for the title, the Miners will be playing for their 18th trip to the Big Dance and first since 2010, while the Hilltoppers will be playing for their 24th bid and first since 2013.
  • In the MAAC semifinals, 5-seed St. Peter's got a tip-in at the buzzer to upset 1-seed Quinnipiac, 62-60, and 2-seed Fairfield held off 3-seed Marist, 65-61.  When they clash in tonight's championship game, the Peacocks will be playing for their 5th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2022 (when they became the first 15-seed to advance to the Elite Eight, beating Kentucky and Purdue on the way), and the Stags are playing for their 4th appearance and first since 1997.
  • In the MAC semifinals, 2-seed Akron survived 3-seed Ohio, 65-63, and 8-seed Kent State downed 5-seed Bowling Green, 73-60, to set up an all-Northeast Ohio championship game.  This will be the fifth time the Zips and the Golden Flashes will have faced off in the MAC Tournament championship game (they're 2-2, by the way).  The Zips will be playing for their 6th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2022, and the Golden Flashes will be playing for their 8th berth and second in a row.
  • In the MEAC semis, the top two seeds fell, as 4-seed Howard upset top seed Norfolk State, 80-74, and 6-seed Delaware State upset 2-seed North Carolina Central, 71-58.  When they play in this afternoon's title game, the Bison will be playing for their 4th NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row, and the Hornets will be playing for their 2nd appearance and first since 2005.
  • In the Mountain West semifinals,  5-seed San Diego State made easy work of 1-seed Utah State, 86-70, and 6-seed New Mexico topped 7-seed Colorado State, 74-61.  Both teams should be locks for the NCAA Tournament.  The Aztecs (who made it to their first Final Four and title game last year) will be playing in their 16th NCAA Tournament and 4th in a row, while the Lobos will be playing in their 16th and first since 2014.
  • In the Pac-12 semis, the top two seeds also lost, as 4-seed Oregon took down top seed Arizona, 67-59, and 3-seed Colorado beat 2-seed Washington State, 58-52.  The Ducks need to win to get into the NCAA Tournament, and they'll be playing for their 18th appearance and first since 2021.  The Buffaloes are likely in regardless, so they'll be playing in their 16th NCAA Tournament and first since 2021.
  • In the SWAC semis, 1-seed Grambling dropped 5-seed Bethune Cookman, 65-53, and 3-seed Texas Southern staved off 7-seed Alabama A&M, 72-65.  When they meet in tonight's title game, the Tigers will be seeking their first ever NCAA Tournament bid, while the other Tigers will be seeking their 13th bid and fourth in a row (and 7th SWAC Tournament title in the last ten years).
  • In the WAC semifinals, top seed Grand Canyon bounced 4-seed Seattle, 80-72, and 3-seed UT Arlington got a game-winning three with five seconds left to beat 2-seed Tarleton, 87-84.  When they play in the last of today's 13 championship games, the Antelopes will be playing for their 3rd NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row, and the Mavericks will be playing for their 2nd appearance and first since 2008.
  • In the AAC quarterfinals, 1-seed South Florida ensured they didn't fall off the bubble by thumping 8-seed East Carolina, 81-59, 2-seed Florida Atlantic eked out a win over 7-seed North Texas, 77-71, 11-seed Temple upset 3-seed Charlotte, 58-54, and 4-seed UAB dropped 12-seed Wichita State, 72-60, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the Big Ten quarters, 1-seed Purdue got a scare before holding off 8-seed Michigan State, 67-64, 2-seed Illinois barely survived 10-seed Ohio State, 77-74, 3-seed Nebraska demolished 6-seed Indiana, 93-66 (making sure the rest of my March is anxiety-free), and 5-seed Wisconsin took down 4-seed Northwestern, 70-61, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the Second Round of the SEC, 9-seed Mississippi State handily beat top seed Tennessee, 73-56, 7-seed Texas A&M significantly helped its NCAA Tournament hopes by beating 2-seed Kentucky, 97-87, 6-seed Florida bounced 3-seed Alabama, 102-88, and 4-seed Auburn annihilated 5-seed South Carolina, 86-55, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • The final conference tournament starts today (Ivy League), and 18 conference tournaments have games today.
  • 13 conference tournaments have title games today (ACC, America East, Big 12, Big East, Big West, C-USA, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, SWAC, WAC), and five conference tournaments have semifinals today (AAC, A-10, Big Ten, Ivy League, SEC).
  • Here are the teams still playing in the conference tournaments that have never been to the NCAA Tournament (not including teams who are ineligible for this year's NCAA Tournament):
    • America East:  2-seed UMass Lowell
    • SWAC:  1-seed Grambling
  • Bubble teams that won yesterday (in conference tournaments):  Colorado, Florida Atlantic, Mississippi State, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, South Florida, Texas A&M
  • Bubble teams that lost yesterday (in conference tournaments):  Colorado State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. John's, Texas Tech, Virginia
  • Bubble teams that did not play yesterday (in conference tournaments) or whose conference tournaments have not yet started:  Princeton
  • Bubble teams whose regular seasons are done (and how they finished in their conference tournaments):  
    • Boise State (lost in Mountain West quarterfinals)
    • Cincinnati (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • Colorado State (lost in Mountain West semifinals)
    • Drake (MVC champ)
    • Indiana State (lost in MVC title game)
    • Iowa (lost in Big Ten second round)
    • James Madison (Sun Belt champ)
    • Kansas State (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • McNeese (Southland champ)
    • Memphis (lost in AAC second round)
    • Michigan State (lost in Big Ten quarterfinals)
    • Nevada (lost in Mountain West quarterfinals)
    • Northwestern (lost in Big Ten quarterfinals)
    • Oklahoma (lost in Big 12 second round)
    • Pittsburgh (lost in ACC semifinals)
    • Providence (lost in Big East semifinals)
    • Seton Hall (lost in Big East quarterfinals)
    • St. John's (lost in Big East semifinals)
    • Syracuse (lost in ACC second round)
    • TCU (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • Texas (lost in Big 12 second round)
    • Texas Tech (lost in Big 12 semifinals)
    • Utah (lost in Pac-12 quarterfinals)
    • Villanova (lost in Big East quarterfinals)
    • Virginia (lost in ACC semifinals)
    • Wake Forest (lost in ACC quarterfinals)
With that, here are the tournaments starting today, the tournaments with games today, bids up for grab today, who has already clinched an automatic berth, and my predictions for the remaining conference tournaments.

Tournaments starting today
-Ivy League

Tournaments with games today
-AAC
-ACC
-America East
-Atlantic 10
-Big 12
-Big East
-Big Ten
-Big West
-Conference USA
-Ivy League
-MAAC
-MAC
-MEAC
-Mountain West
-Pac-12
-SEC
-SWAC
-WAC

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern)
-America East (11 a.m.; ESPN2):  (2) UMass Lowell at (1) Vermont
-MEAC (1:00 p.m.; ESPN2):  (4) Howard vs. (6) Delaware State
-Big 12 (6 p.m.; ESPN):  (1) Houston vs. (2) Iowa State
-Mountain West (6 p.m.; CBS):  (5) San Diego State vs. (6) New Mexico
-Big East (6:30 p.m.; Fox):  (1) UConn vs. (3) Marquette
-MAAC (7:30 p.m.; ESPNU):  (2) Fairfield vs. (5) St. Peter's
-MAC (7:30 p.m.; ESPN2):  (2) Akron vs. (8) Kent State
-ACC (8:30 p.m.; ESPN):  (1) North Carolina vs. (10) NC State
-Conference USA (8:30 p.m.; CBSSN):  (3) Western Kentucky vs. (5) UTEP
-Pac-12 (9 p.m.; Fox):  (3) Colorado vs. (4) Oregon
-Big West (9:30 p.m.; ESPN2):  (2) UC Davis vs. (4) Long Beach State
-SWAC (9:30 p.m.; ESPNU):  (1) Grambling vs. (3) Texas Southern
-WAC (11:30 p.m.; ESPN2):  (1) Grand Canyon vs. (3) UT Arlington

Already clinched automatic berths (I will add in parentheses the NCAA tournament appearances for each school, including the bid just clinched and last NCAA Tournament appearance where applicable, and for conferences whose tournaments have not yet ended, I'll list the date of the championship game)
-AAC (March 17)
-ACC (March 16)
-America East (March 16)
-Atlantic 10 (March 17)
-Atlantic Sun:  Stetson (1)
-Big 12 (March 16)
-Big East (March 16)
-Big Sky:  Montana State (6; 2023)
-Big South:  Longwood (2; 2022)
-Big Ten (March 17)
-Big West (March 16)
-Coastal:  Charleston (7; 2023)
-Conference USA (March 16)
-Horizon:  Oakland (4; 2011)
-Ivy League (March 17)
-MAAC (March 16)
-MAC (March 16)
-MEAC (March 16)
-Missouri Valley:  Drake (7; 2023)
-Mountain West (March 16)
-Northeast Conference:  Wagner (2; 2003)
-Ohio Valley:  Morehead State (9; 2016)
-Pac-12 (March 16)
-Patriot League:  Colgate (7; 2003)
-SEC (March 17)
-Southern Conference:  Samford (3; 2000)
-Southland:  McNeese (3; 2002)
-Summit:  South Dakota State (7; 2022)
-Sun Belt:  James Madison (6; 2013)
-SWAC (March 16)
-WAC (March 16)
-West Coast:  St. Mary's (13; 2023)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern)

AAC (March 13-17; Fort Worth)
3/16 – Semifinals
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Florida vs. (4) UAB.  Predicted winner:  South Florida
5 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Florida Atlantic vs. (11) Temple.  Predicted winner:  Florida Atlantic
3/17 – Finals
3:15 p.m. (ESPN) (1) South Florida vs. (2) Florida Atlantic.  Predicted winner:  Florida Atlantic

ACC (March 12-16; Washington, DC)
3/16 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (ESPN) (1) North Carolina vs. (10) NC State.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina

America East (March 9, 12, 16; campus of higher seed)
3/16 – Finals
11 a.m. (ESPN2) (2) UMass Lowell at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

Atlantic 10 (March 12-14, 16-17; Brooklyn)
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBSSN) (9) St. Joseph's vs. (5) VCU.  Predicted winner:  VCU
3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (7) St. Bonaventure vs. (6) Duquesne.  Predicted winner:  Duquesne
3/17 – Finals
1 p.m. (CBS) (6) Duquesne vs. (5) VCU.  Predicted winner:  VCU

Big 12 (March 12-16; Kansas City)
3/16 – Finals
6 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Houston vs. (2) Iowa State.  Predicted winner:  Houston

Big East (March 13-16; New York)
3/16 – Finals
6:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) UConn vs. (3) Marquette.  Predicted winner:  UConn

Big Ten (March 13-17; Minneapolis)
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBS) (1) Purdue vs. (5) Wisconsin.  Predicted winner:  Wisconsin
3:30 p.m. (CBS) (2) Illinois vs. (3) Nebraska.  Predicted winner:  Nebraska
3/17 – Finals
3:30 p.m. (CBS) (3) Nebraska vs. (5) Wisconsin.  Predicted winner:  Nebraska

Big West (March 13-16; Henderson, NV)
3/16 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Long Beach State vs. (2) UC Davis.  Predicted winner:  UC Davis

Conference USA (March 12-16; Huntsville, AL)
3/16 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (5) UTEP vs. (3) Western Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky

Ivy League (March 16-17; New York)
3/16 - Semifinals
11 a.m. (ESPNU) (1) Princeton vs. (4) Brown.  Predicted winner:  Princeton
2 p.m. (ESPNews) (2) Yale vs. (3) Cornell.  Predicted winner:  Cornell
3/17 - Finals
12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Princeton vs. (3) Cornell.  Predicted winner:  Princeton

MAAC (March 12-16; Atlantic City, NJ)
3/16 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Fairfield vs. (5) St. Peter's.  Predicted winner:  Fairfield

MAC (March 14-16; Cleveland)
3/16 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Akron vs. (8) Kent State.  Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 13-16; Norfolk, VA)
3/16 – Final
1:00 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Howard vs. (6) Delaware State.  Predicted winner:  Delaware State

Mountain West (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/16 – Finals
6 p.m. (CBS) (5) San Diego State vs. (6) New Mexico.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State

Pac-12 (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/16 – Finals
9 p.m. (Fox) (1) Arizona vs. (3) Colorado vs. (4) Oregon.  Predicted winner:  Colorado

SEC (March 13-17; Nashville)
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (9) Mississippi State vs. (4) Auburn.  Predicted winner:  Auburn
3:30 p.m. (ESPN) (6) Florida vs. (7) Texas A&M.  Predicted winner:  Florida
3/17 – Finals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (4) Auburn vs. (6) Florida.  Predicted winner:  Auburn

SWAC (March 13-16; Birmingham, AL)
3/16 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Grambling vs. (3) Texas Southern.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

WAC (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/16 – Finals
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Grand Canyon vs. (3) UT Arlington.  Predicted winner:  Grand Canyon

Friday, March 15, 2024

Hair Band Friday - 3/15/24

1.  "You Could Be Mine" by Guns N' Roses

2.  "Feels So Good" by Van Halen

3.  "You're Too Bad" by FireHouse

4.  "Temptation" by Y&T

5.  "Get Down" by Keel

6.  "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)" by W.A.S.P.

7.  "Dangerous But Worth the Risk" by Ratt

8.  "Hands Off" by Junkyard

9.  "Where There's a Whip There's a Way" by Faster Pussycat

10.  "Give to Live" by Sammy Hagar

Updated Championship Week Predictions: "Vehicle"

Yesterday's marathon of Championship Week action was not lacking for excitement and drama.  A bunch of high seeds lost earlier than they should have:

  • AAC 5-seed Memphis and 6-seed SMU in the second round
  • ACC 2-seed Duke in the quarterfinals
  • A-10 1-seed Richmond, 2-seed Loyola (IL), 3-seed Dayton, and 4-seed UMass in the quarterfinals.  Yes, you read that right:  the A-10's top four seeds all lost on the same day.
  • Big East 2-seed Creighton and 4-seed Seton Hall in the quarterfinals
  • C-USA 4-seed Liberty in the quarterfinals
  • MAAC 4-seed Rider in the quarterfinals
  • MAC 1-seed Toledo and 4-seed Central Michigan in the quarterfinals
  • MEAC 3-seed South Carolina State in the quarterfinals
  • Mountain West 2-seed Nevada, 3-seed Boise State, and 4-seed UNLV in the quarterfinals
  • SWAC 4-seed Southern in the quarterfinals

Of the 12 conferences whose semifinals are set (aside from the Ivy League, whose tournament only has four teams and doesn't start until tomorrow), only four have all top four seeds still playing (Big 12, Big West, Pac-12, WAC).

Today, from the tip of the Purdue/Michigan State game in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals at Noon ET to the finish of the Colorado State/New Mexico game in the Mountain West semifinals that tips off at 11:59 p.m. ET, we have 32 college basketball games in 15 conferences across over about 14 hours.  

As we have reached March 15 -- and top teams in semifinal and quarterfinal matchups need to watch their backs -- today's song is the 1970 #2 hit "Vehicle" by The Ides of March.

Here's what happened in yesterday's action and what we have to look forward to:
  • In the ACC quarterfinals, 1-seed North Carolina beat up on 9-seed Florida State, 92-67, 10-seed NC State upset my ACC Tournament champ pick 2-seed Duke, 74-69, 3-seed Virginia needed OT to beat 11-seed Boston College, 66-60, and 4-seed Pittsburgh ousted 5-seed Wake Forest, 81-69 (likely dooming the Demon Deacons' NCAA Tournament hopes), to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the A-10 quarters, 9-seed St. Joseph's upset 1-seed Richmond, 66-61, 7-seed St. Bonaventure upset 2-seed Loyola (IL), 75-74 in double OT, 6-seed Duquesne upset 3-seed Dayton, 65-57, and 5-seed VCU toppled 4-seed UMass, 73-59, to advance to tomorrow's semifinals.
  • In the Big 12 quarterfinals, top seed Houston cruised past 8-seed TCU, 60-45, 2-seed Iowa State dominated 10-seed Kansas State, 76-57, 3-seed Baylor eliminated 11-seed Cincinnati, 68-56, and 4-seed Texas Tech easily beat 5-seed BYU, 81-67, to advance to today's semis.
  • In the Big East quarterfinals, 1-seed UConn destroyed 9-seed Xavier, 87-60, 7-seed Providence significantly helped its NCAA Tournament hopes by upsetting 2-seed Creighton, 78-73, 3-seed Marquette had a buzzer beater in regulation called off but beat 6-seed Villanova, 71-65 in OT, and 5-seed St. John's trounced 4-seed Seton Hall, 91-72 (in what may have been an NCAA Tournament elimination game), to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the Big West quarters, 3-seed Hawaii staved off 7-seed Cal State Northridge, 75-68, and 4-seed Long Beach State easily handled 5-seed UC Riverside, 86-67, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the second half of the C-USA quarterfinals, 3-seed Western Kentucky dominated 6-seed New Mexico State, 89-69, and 5-seed UTEP beat 4-seed Liberty, 66-57, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the second half of the MAAC quarters, 3-seed Marist held off 6-seed Niagara, 65-59, and 5-seed St. Peter's topped 4-seed Rider, 50-48, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the miggity-miggity-miggity-miggity-miggity-miggity-MAC quarterfinals, 8-seed Kent State upset 1-seed Toledo, 67-59, 2-seed Akron dropped 7-seed Miami (OH), 75-63, 3-seed Ohio annihilated 6-seed Western Michigan, 82-55, and 5-seed Bowling Green topped 4-seed Central Michigan, 66-56, to advance to today's semis.
  • In the second half of the MEAC quarterfinals, 6-seed Delaware State upset 3-seed South Carolina State, 71-58, and 4-seed Howard defeated 5-seed Morgan State, 78-65, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the Mountain West quarterfinals, 1-seed Utah State needed OT to escape with an 87-75 win over 9-seed Fresno State, 7-seed Colorado State upended 2-seed Nevada, 84-78, 6-seed New Mexico beat 3-seed Boise State, 76-66, and 5-seed San Diego State topped 4-seed UNLV, 74-71 in OT, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the Pac-12 quarterfinals, top seed Arizona crushed 9-seed USC, 70-49, 2-seed Washington State destroyed 10-seed Stanford, 79-62, 3-seed Colorado cruised to a win over 6-seed Utah, 75-58, and 4-seed Oregon survived 5-seed UCLA, 68-66, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the second half of the SWAC quarters, 3-seed Texas Southern beat 6-seed Jackson State, 73-62, and 5-seed Bethune Cookman easily beat 4-seed Southern, 73-58, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-WAC quarterfinals, 3-seed UT Arlington exploded for a 109-78 win over 6-seed Stephen F. Austin, and 4-seed Seattle crushed 8-seed Cal Baptist, 81-57, to advance to today's semifinals.
  • In the Second Round of the AAC, 12-seed Wichita State upset 5-seed Memphis, 71-65, 11-seed Temple upset 6-seed SMU, 75-60, 7-seed North Texas topped 10-seed Tulane, 81-71, and 8-seed East Carolina held off 9-seed Tulsa, 84-79, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the Second Round of the Big Ten, 5-seed Wisconsin massacred 12-seed Maryland, 87-56, 6-seed Indiana got a game-winning put-back layup with 5 seconds left to beat 11-seed Penn State, 61-59, 10-seed Ohio State upset 7-seed Iowa, 90-78, and 8-seed Michigan State downed 9-seed Minnesota, 77-67, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the Second Round of the SEC, 5-seed South Carolina downed 12-seed Arkansas, 80-66, 6-seed Florida eked out a win over 11-seed Georgia, 85-80, 7-seed Texas A&M held off 10-seed Mississippi, 80-71, and 9-seed Mississippi State beat 8-seed LSU, 70-60, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • No conference tournaments start today, and 15 conference tournaments have games today.
  • No conference tournaments have title games today (the next title games will be tomorrow), 12 conference tournaments have semifinals today (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big West, C-USA, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, SWAC, WAC), and 3 conference tournaments have quarterfinals today (AAC, Big Ten, SEC).
  • Here are the teams still playing in the conference tournaments that have never been to the NCAA Tournament (not including teams who are ineligible for this year's NCAA Tournament):
    • America East:  2-seed UMass Lowell
    • MAAC:  1-seed Quinnipiac
    • SWAC:  1-seed Grambling, 5-seed Bethune-Cookman
  • Bubble teams that won yesterday (in conference tournaments):  Colorado, Colorado State, Michigan State, Mississippi State, New Mexico, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. John's, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Virginia
  • Bubble teams that lost yesterday (in conference tournaments):  Boise State, Cincinnati, Iowa, Kansas State, Memphis, Nevada, Seton Hall, TCU, Utah, Villanova, Wake Forest
  • Bubble teams that did not play yesterday (in conference tournaments) or whose conference tournaments have not yet started:  Florida Atlantic, Nebraska,  Northwestern, Princeton, South Florida
  • Bubble teams whose regular seasons are done (and how they finished in their conference tournaments):  
    • Boise State (lost in Mountain West quarterfinals)
    • Cincinnati (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • Drake (MVC champ)
    • Indiana State (lost in MVC title game)
    • Iowa (lost in Big Ten second round)
    • James Madison (Sun Belt champ)
    • Kansas State (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • McNeese (Southland champ)
    • Memphis (lost in AAC second round)
    • Nevada (lost in Mountain West quarterfinals)
    • Oklahoma (lost in Big 12 second round)
    • Seton Hall (lost in Big East quarterfinals)
    • Syracuse (lost in ACC second round)
    • TCU (lost in Big 12 quarterfinals)
    • Texas (lost in Big 12 second round)
    • Utah (lost in Pac-12 quarterfinals)
    • Villanova (lost in Big East quarterfinals)
    • Wake Forest (lost in ACC quarterfinals)
With that, here are the tournaments starting today, the tournaments with games today, bids up for grab today, who has already clinched an automatic berth, and my predictions for the remaining conference tournaments.

Tournaments starting today
-None

Tournaments with games today
-AAC
-ACC
-Big 12
-Big East
-Big Ten
-Big West
-Conference USA
-MAAC
-MAC
-MEAC
-Mountain West
-Pac-12
-SEC
-SWAC
-WAC

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern)
-None

Already clinched automatic berths (I will add in parentheses the NCAA tournament appearances for each school, including the bid just clinched and last NCAA Tournament appearance where applicable, and for conferences whose tournaments have not yet ended, I'll list the date of the championship game)
-AAC (March 17)
-ACC (March 16)
-America East (March 16)
-Atlantic 10 (March 17)
-Atlantic Sun:  Stetson (1)
-Big 12 (March 16)
-Big East (March 16)
-Big Sky:  Montana State (6; 2023)
-Big South:  Longwood (2; 2022)
-Big Ten (March 17)
-Big West (March 16)
-Coastal:  Charleston (7; 2023)
-Conference USA (March 16)
-Horizon:  Oakland (4; 2011)
-Ivy League (March 17)
-MAAC (March 16)
-MAC (March 16)
-MEAC (March 16)
-Missouri Valley:  Drake (7; 2023)
-Mountain West (March 16)
-Northeast Conference:  Wagner (2; 2003)
-Ohio Valley:  Morehead State (9; 2016)
-Pac-12 (March 16)
-Patriot League:  Colgate (7; 2003)
-SEC (March 17)
-Southern Conference:  Samford (3; 2000)
-Southland:  McNeese (3; 2002)
-Summit:  South Dakota State (7; 2022)
-Sun Belt:  James Madison (6; 2013)
-SWAC (March 16)
-WAC (March 16)
-West Coast:  St. Mary's (13; 2023)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern)

AAC (March 13-17; Fort Worth)
3/15 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Florida vs. (8) East Carolina.  Predicted winner:  South Florida
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) UAB vs. (12) Wichita State.  Predicted winner:  UAB
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Florida Atlantic vs. (7) North Texas.  Predicted winner:  Florida Atlantic
9 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) Charlotte vs. (11) Temple.  Predicted winner:  Charlotte
3/16 – Semifinals
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Florida vs. (4) UAB.  Predicted winner:  South Florida
5 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Florida Atlantic vs. (3) Charlotte.  Predicted winner:  Florida Atlantic
3/17 – Finals
3:15 p.m. (ESPN) (1) South Florida vs. (2) Florida Atlantic.  Predicted winner:  Florida Atlantic

ACC (March 12-16; Washington, DC)
3/15 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) North Carolina vs. (4) Pittsburgh.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (10) NC State vs. (3) Virginia.  Predicted winner:  Virginia
3/16 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (ESPN) (1) North Carolina vs. (3) Virginia.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina

America East (March 9, 12, 16; campus of higher seed)
3/16 – Finals
11 a.m. (ESPN2) (2) UMass Lowell at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

Atlantic 10 (March 12-14, 16-17; Brooklyn)
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBSSN) (9) St. Joseph's vs. (5) VCU.  Predicted winner:  VCU
3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (7) St. Bonaventure vs. (6) Duquesne.  Predicted winner:  Duquesne
3/17 – Finals
1 p.m. (CBS) (6) Duquesne vs. (5) VCU.  Predicted winner:  VCU

Big 12 (March 12-16; Kansas City)
3/15 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Houston vs. (4) Texas Tech.  Predicted winner:  Houston
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Iowa State vs. (3) Baylor.  Predicted winner:  Baylor
3/16 – Finals
6 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Houston vs. (3) Baylor.  Predicted winner:  Houston

Big East (March 13-16; New York)
3/15 – Semifinals
5:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) UConn vs. (5) St. John's.  Predicted winner:  UConn
8 p.m. (FS1) (7) Providence vs. (3) Marquette.  Predicted winner:  Marquette
3/16 – Finals
6:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) UConn vs. (3) Marquette.  Predicted winner:  UConn

Big Ten (March 13-17; Minneapolis)
3/15 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (BTN) (1) Purdue vs. (8) Michigan State.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State
2:30 p.m. (BTN) (4) Northwestern vs. (5) Wisconsin.  Predicted winner:  Northwestern
6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) Illinois vs. (10) Ohio State.  Predicted winner:  Illinois
9 p.m. (BTN) (3) Nebraska vs. (6) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Indiana
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBS) (4) Northwestern vs. (8) Michigan State.  Predicted winner:  Northwestern
3:30 p.m. (CBS) (2) Illinois vs. (6) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Indiana
3/17 – Finals
3:30 p.m. (CBS) (4) Northwestern vs. (6) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Northwestern

Big West (March 13-16; Henderson, NV)
3/15 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) UC Irvine vs. (4) Long Beach State.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine
11:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) UC Davis vs. (3) Hawaii.  Predicted winner:  UC Davis
3/16 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) UC Irvine vs. (2) UC Davis.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine

Conference USA (March 12-16; Huntsville, AL)
3/15 – Semifinals
12:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Sam Houston State vs. (5) UTEP.  Predicted winner:  Sam Houston State
3 p.m. (CBSSN) (7) Middle Tennessee State vs. (3) Western Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky
3/16 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Sam Houston State vs. (3) Western Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech

Ivy League (March 16-17; New York)
3/16 - Semifinals
11 a.m. (ESPNU) (1) Princeton vs. (4) Brown.  Predicted winner:  Princeton
2 p.m. (ESPNews) (2) Yale vs. (3) Cornell.  Predicted winner:  Cornell
3/17 - Finals
12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Princeton vs. (3) Cornell.  Predicted winner:  Princeton

MAAC (March 12-16; Atlantic City, NJ)
3/15 – Semifinals
6:30 p.m. (ESPNews) (1) Quinnipiac vs. (5) St. Peter's.  Predicted winner:  Quinnipiac
9 p.m. (ESPNews) (2) Fairfield vs. (3) Marist.  Predicted winner:  Fairfield
3/16 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Quinnipiac vs. (2) Fairfield.  Predicted winner:  Quinnipiac

MAC (March 14-16; Cleveland)
3/15 – Semifinals
5 p.m. (CBSSN) (8) Kent State vs. (5) Bowling Green.  Predicted winner:  Bowling Green
7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Akron vs. (3) Ohio.  Predicted winner:  Akron
3/16 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Akron vs. (5) Bowling Green.  Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 13-16; Norfolk, VA)
3/15 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Norfolk State vs. (4) Howard.  Predicted winner:  Norfolk State
8 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) North Carolina Central vs. (6) Delaware State.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central
3/16 – Final
1:00 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Norfolk State vs. (2) North Carolina Central.  Predicted winner:  Norfolk State

Mountain West (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/15 – Semifinals
9:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Utah State vs. (5) San Diego State.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State
11:59 p.m. (CBSSN) (7) Colorado State vs. (6) New Mexico.  Predicted winner:  Nevada
3/16 – Finals
6 p.m. (CBS) (2) Nevada vs. (5) San Diego State.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State

Pac-12 (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/15 – Semifinals
8 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) Arizona vs. (4) Oregon.  Predicted winner:  Arizona
10:30 p.m. (FS1) (2) Washington State vs. (3) Colorado.  Predicted winner:  Colorado
3/16 – Finals
9 p.m. (Fox) (1) Arizona vs. (3) Colorado.  Predicted winner:  Arizona

SEC (March 13-17; Nashville)
3/15 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Tennessee vs. (9) Mississippi State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee
3:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) Auburn vs. (5) South Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Auburn
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) Kentucky vs. (7) Texas A&M.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky
9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) Alabama vs. (6) Florida.  Predicted winner:  Alabama
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Tennessee vs. (4) Auburn.  Predicted winner:  Auburn
3:30 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Kentucky vs. (3) Alabama.  Predicted winner:  Alabama
3/17 – Finals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Alabama vs. (4) Auburn.  Predicted winner:  Auburn

SWAC (March 13-16; Birmingham, AL)
3/15 – Semifinals
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Grambling vs. (5) Bethune-Cookman.  Predicted winner:  Grambling
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Alabama A&M vs. (3) Texas Southern.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern
3/16 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Grambling vs. (3) Texas Southern.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

WAC (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/15 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Grand Canyon vs. (4) Seattle.  Predicted winner:  Grand Canyon
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPNU) (2) Tarleton* vs. (3) UT Arlington.  Predicted winner:  Tarleton*
3/16 – Finals
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Grand Canyon vs. (2) Tarleton*.  Predicted winner:  Grand Canyon
*Ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-II.  If Tarleton wins the tournament, Grand Canyon will get the automatic bid.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Updated Championship Week Predictions: "Cowboy Song"

Five more bids were clinched yesterday!  And several high seeds lost earlier than they should have (CUSA 2-seed Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals, SWAC 2-seed Alcorn State in the quarterfinals, ACC 6-seed Clemson in the second round, Big 12 6-seed Kansas in the second round). We had a bunch of close games, a few OT games, and some last-second winners.  If you get a chance, watch the highlights of the buzzer beater at end of the Stephen F. Austin/Abilene Christian game in the WAC.  Madness!  Some teams' bubbles were burst, while some others will keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive for at least another day.

Today, from the tip of the Toledo/Kent State game in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals at 11 a.m. ET to the finish of four games (in the Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and WAC Tournament quarterfinals) that tip off at 11:30 p.m. ET, we have 52 college basketball games in 16 conferences across over about 15 hours.  Today's song is a sublime ode to Americana -- with not one, but two, wicked guitar solos -- from the greatest Irish rock band there ever was, "Cowboy Song" by Thin Lizzy, in honor of the McNeese Cowboys' Southland Tournament championship victory.

Here's what happened in yesterday's action and what we have to look forward to:
  • In the Big Sky title game and the battle for Treasure State bragging rights, 5-seed Montana State surged in the second half to overtake 3-seed Montana and win 85-70.  The Bobcats clinched their 6th NCAA Tournament bid and third in a row.
  • In the Patriot League title game, 1-seed Colgate destroyed 6-seed Lehigh, 74-55.  The Raiders will be going to their 7th NCAA Tournament and fourth in a row.
  • In the Southland championship, 1-seed McNeese dominated 3-seed Nicholls, 92-76, to clinch the Cowboys' 3rd trip to the NCAA Tournament and first since 2002 -- and they became the second D-1 team this year to reach the 30-win mark.
  • In the first half of the C-USA quarterfinals, top seed Sam Houston State made easy work of 9-seed FIU, 78-59, and 7-seed Middle Tennessee State upset 2-seed Louisiana Tech, 70-67, to advance to tomorrow's semifinals.
  • In the first half of the MAAC quarters, 1-seed Quinnipiac crushed 9-seed Canisius, 76-52, and 2-seed Fairfield slayed perennial MAAC Tournament stalwart (regardless of seed) 7-seed Iona, 68-63, to advance to tomorrow's semifinals.
  • In the first half of the MEAC quarterfinals, top seed Norfolk State bombarded 8-seed Coppin State, 75-51, and 2-seed North Carolina Central held off 7-seed Maryland Eastern Shore, 87-81, to advance to tomorrow's semifinals.
  • In the first half of the SWAC quarters, 1-seed Grambling held off 8-seed Alabama State, 56-50, and 7-seed Alabama A&M upset 2-seed Alcorn State, 75-63, to advance to tomorrow's semifinals.
  • In the Second Round of the ACC, 5-seed Wake Forest bounced 12-seed Notre Dame, 72-59, 11-seed Boston College convincingly upset 6-seed Clemson (who several "experts" had as a dark horse ACC Tournament champ candidate), 76-55, 10-seed NC State upset 7-seed Syracuse in commanding fashion, 83-65 (likely ending the Orange's NCAA Tournament hopes), and 9-seed Florida State beat 8-seed Virginia Tech, 86-76, to advance to today's quarterfinals. 
  • In the Second Round of the A-10, 5-seed VCU topped 12-seed Fordham, 69-62, 6-seed Duquesne beat 14-seed St. Louis, 83-73, 7-seed St. Bonaventure staved off 10-seed LaSalle, 75-73, and 9-seed St. Joseph's dropped 8-seed George Mason, 64-57, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the Second Round of the Big 12, 5-seed BYU downed 12-seed UCF, 87-73, 11-seed Cincinnati led by double digits for nearly the entire game on the way to upsetting an injury-riddled 6-seed Kansas, 72-52, 10-seed Kansas State upset 7-seed Texas, 78-74, and 8-seed TCU beat 9-seed Oklahoma, 77-70, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the First Round of the AAC, 11-seed Temple eked out a 64-61 win over 14-seed UTSA, and 12-seed Wichita State beat 13-seed Rice, 88-81, to advance to today's second round.
  • In the First Round of the Big East, 6-seed Villanova avoided being bounced from the bubble by hitting a game-winning three with 9 seconds left to beat 11-seed DePaul, 58-57, 7-seed Providence trounced 10-seed Georgetown, 74-56, and 9-seed Xavier topped 8-seed Butler, 76-72, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the First Round of the Big Ten, 11-seed Penn State beat 14-seed Michigan (whose season ends at 8-24, which is the most losses in a season in program history), 66-57, and 12-seed Maryland trucked 13-seed Rutgers, 65-51, to advance to today's second round.
  • In the First Round of the Big West, 5-seed UC Riverside topped 8-seed Cal State Bakersfield, 83-78, and 7-seed Cal State Northridge beat 6-seed UC Santa Barbara, 87-84 in OT (for the Matadors' first Big West Tournament win in ten years), to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the First Round of the Mountain West, 6-seed New Mexico grounded 11-seed Air Force, 82-56, 7-seed Colorado State beat 10-seed San Jose State, 72-62, and 9-seed Fresno State topped 8-seed Wyoming, 77-73, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the First Round of the Pac-12, 5-seed UCLA beat 12-seed Oregon State, 67-57, 6-seed Utah curbstomped 11-seed Arizona State, 90-57, 10-seed Stanford beat archrival 7-seed Cal, 87-76 in OT, and 9-seed USC bounced 8-seed Washington, 80-74, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the First Round of the SEC, 11-seed Georgia outlasted 14-seed Missouri, 64-59, and 12-seed Arkansas needed OT to get by 13-seed Vanderbilt, 90-85, to advance to today's second round.
  • In the First Round of the wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-WAC, 8-seed Cal Baptist upset 5-seed Utah Valley, 74-63 in OT, and in the craziest finish of the day, after a frantic back-and-forth sequence in the last ten seconds, 6-seed Stephen F. Austin had a long pass to get a three at the buzzer to beat 7-seed Abilene Christian, 60-57, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • One conference tournament starts today (MAC), and 16 conference tournaments have games today.
  • No conference tournaments have title games today (the next title games will be Saturday), no conference tournaments have semifinals today, and 13 conference tournaments have quarterfinals today (ACC, A-10, Big 12, Big East, Big West, C-USA, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, SWAC, WAC).
  • Here are the teams still playing in the conference tournaments that have never been to the NCAA Tournament (not including teams who are ineligible for this year's NCAA Tournament):
    • America East:  2-seed UMass Lowell
    • Big West:  5-seed UC Riverside
    • MAAC:  1-seed Quinnipiac
    • SWAC:  1-seed Grambling, 5-seed Bethune-Cookman
    • WAC:  8-seed Cal Baptist
  • Bubble teams that won yesterday (in conference tournaments):  Colorado State, Kansas State, McNeese, New Mexico, Providence, TCU, Utah, Villanova
  • Bubble teams that lost yesterday (in conference tournaments):  Oklahoma, Syracuse, Texas
  • Bubble teams that did not play yesterday (in conference tournaments) or whose conference tournaments have not yet started:  Boise State, Colorado, Florida Atlantic, Iowa, Memphis, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Nevada, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Seton Hall, South Florida, St. John's, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest
  • Bubble teams whose regular seasons are done (and how they finished in their conference tournaments):  
    • Drake (MVC champ)
    • Indiana State (lost in MVC title game)
    • James Madison (Sun Belt champ)
    • McNeese (Southland champ)
    • Oklahoma (lost in Big 12 second round)
    • Syracuse (lost in ACC second round)
    • Texas (lost in Big 12 second round)
With that, here are the tournaments starting today, the tournaments with games today, bids up for grab today, who has already clinched an automatic berth, and my predictions for the remaining conference tournaments.

Tournaments starting today
-MAC

Tournaments with games today
-AAC
-ACC
-Atlantic 10
-Big 12
-Big East
-Big Ten
-Big West
-Conference USA
-MAAC
-MAC
-MEAC
-Mountain West
-Pac-12
-SEC
-SWAC
-WAC

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern)
-None

Already clinched automatic berths (I will add in parentheses the NCAA tournament appearances for each school, including the bid just clinched and last NCAA Tournament appearance where applicable, and for conferences whose tournaments have not yet ended, I'll list the date of the championship game)
-AAC (March 17)
-ACC (March 16)
-America East (March 16)
-Atlantic 10 (March 17)
-Atlantic Sun:  Stetson (1)
-Big 12 (March 16)
-Big East (March 16)
-Big Sky:  Montana State (6; 2023)
-Big South:  Longwood (2; 2022)
-Big Ten (March 17)
-Big West (March 16)
-Coastal:  Charleston (7; 2023)
-Conference USA (March 16)
-Horizon:  Oakland (4; 2011)
-Ivy League (March 17)
-MAAC (March 16)
-MAC (March 16)
-MEAC (March 16)
-Missouri Valley:  Drake (7; 2023)
-Mountain West (March 16)
-Northeast Conference:  Wagner (2; 2003)
-Ohio Valley:  Morehead State (9; 2016)
-Pac-12 (March 16)
-Patriot League:  Colgate (7; 2003)
-SEC (March 17)
-Southern Conference:  Samford (3; 2000)
-Southland:  McNeese (3; 2002)
-Summit:  South Dakota State (7; 2022)
-Sun Belt:  James Madison (6; 2013)
-SWAC (March 16)
-WAC (March 16)
-West Coast:  St. Mary's (13; 2023)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern)

AAC (March 13-17; Fort Worth)
3/14 – Second Round
12:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) East Carolina vs. (9) Tulsa.  Predicted winner:  Tulsa
2:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (5) Memphis vs. (12) Wichita State.  Predicted winner:  Memphis
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) North Texas vs. (10) Tulane.  Predicted winner:  North Texas
9 p.m. (ESPNU) (6) SMU vs. (11) Temple.  Predicted winner:  SMU
3/15 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Florida vs. (9) Tulsa.  Predicted winner:  South Florida
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) UAB vs. (5) Memphis.  Predicted winner:  Memphis
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Florida Atlantic vs. (7) North Texas.  Predicted winner:  Florida Atlantic
9 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) Charlotte vs. (6) SMU.  Predicted winner:  SMU
3/16 – Semifinals
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Florida vs. (5) Memphis.  Predicted winner:  South Florida
5 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Florida Atlantic vs. (6) SMU.  Predicted winner:  Florida Atlantic
3/17 – Finals
3:15 p.m. (ESPN) (1) South Florida vs. (2) Florida Atlantic.  Predicted winner:  Florida Atlantic

ACC (March 12-16; Washington, DC)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) North Carolina vs. (9) Florida State.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina
2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Wake Forest.  Predicted winner:  Pittsburgh
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Duke vs. (10) NC State.  Predicted winner:  Duke
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) Virginia vs. (11) Boston College.  Predicted winner:  Virginia
3/15 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) North Carolina vs. (4) Pittsburgh.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Duke vs. (3) Virginia.  Predicted winner:  Duke
3/16 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (ESPN) (1) North Carolina vs. (2) Duke.  Predicted winner:  Duke

America East (March 9, 12, 16; campus of higher seed)
3/16 – Finals
11 a.m. (ESPN2) (2) UMass Lowell at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

Atlantic 10 (March 12-14, 16-17; Brooklyn)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
11:30 a.m. (USA) (1) Richmond vs. (9) St. Joseph's.  Predicted winner:  Richmond
2 p.m. (USA) (4) UMass vs. (5) VCU.  Predicted winner:  VCU
5 p.m. (USA) (2) Loyola (IL) vs. (7) St. Bonaventure.  Predicted winner:  Loyola (IL)
7:30 p.m. (USA) (3) Dayton vs. (6) Duquesne.  Predicted winner:  
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Richmond vs. (5) VCU.  Predicted winner:  Richmond
3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Loyola (IL) vs. (3) Dayton.  Predicted winner:  Dayton
3/17 – Finals
1 p.m. (CBS) (1) Richmond vs. (3) Dayton.  Predicted winner:  Dayton

Big 12 (March 12-16; Kansas City)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
12:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) Texas Tech vs. (5) BYU.  Predicted winner:  BYU
3 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Houston vs. (8) TCU.  Predicted winner:  Houston
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Iowa State vs. (10) Kansas State.  Predicted winner:  Iowa State
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) Baylor vs. (11) Cincinnati.  Predicted winner:  Baylor
3/15 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Houston vs. (5) BYU.  Predicted winner:  Houston
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Iowa State vs. (3) Baylor.  Predicted winner:  Baylor
3/16 – Finals
6 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Houston vs. (3) Baylor.  Predicted winner:  Houston

Big East (March 13-16; New York)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (FS1) (1) UConn vs. (9) Xavier.  Predicted winner:  UConn
2:30 p.m. (FS1) (4) Seton Hall vs. (5) St. John's.  Predicted winner:  Seton Hall
7 p.m. (FS1) (2) Creighton vs. (7) Providence.  Predicted winner:  Creighton
9:30 p.m. (FS1) (3) Marquette vs. (6) Villanova.  Predicted winner:  Marquette
3/15 – Semifinals
5:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) UConn vs. (4) Seton Hall.  Predicted winner:  UConn
8 p.m. (FS1) (2) Creighton vs. (3) Marquette.  Predicted winner:  Marquette
3/16 – Finals
6:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) UConn vs. (3) Marquette.  Predicted winner:  UConn

Big Ten (March 13-17; Minneapolis)
3/14 – Second Round
12 p.m. (BTN) (8) Michigan State vs. (9) Minnesota.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State
2:30 p.m. (BTN) (5) Wisconsin vs. (12) Maryland.  Predicted winner:  Wisconsin
6:30 p.m. (BTN) (7) Iowa vs. (10) Ohio State.  Predicted winner:  Iowa
9 p.m. (BTN) (6) Indiana vs. (11) Penn State.  Predicted winner:  Indiana
3/15 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (BTN) (1) Purdue vs. (8) Michigan State.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State
2:30 p.m. (BTN) (4) Northwestern vs. (5) Wisconsin.  Predicted winner:  Northwestern
6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) Illinois vs. (7) Iowa.  Predicted winner:  Illinois
9 p.m. (BTN) (3) Nebraska vs. (6) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Indiana
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBS) (4) Northwestern vs. (8) Michigan State.  Predicted winner:  Northwestern
3:30 p.m. (CBS) (2) Illinois vs. (6) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Indiana
3/17 – Finals
3:30 p.m. (CBS) (4) Northwestern vs. (6) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Northwestern

Big West (March 13-16; Henderson, NV)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Hawaii vs. (7) Cal State Northridge.  Predicted winner:  Hawaii
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Long Beach State vs. (5) UC Riverside.  Predicted winner:  Long Beach State
3/15 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) UC Irvine vs. (4) Long Beach State.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine
11:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) UC Davis vs. (3) Hawaii.  Predicted winner:  UC Davis
3/16 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) UC Irvine vs. (2) UC Davis.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine

Conference USA (March 12-16; Huntsville, AL)
Quarterfinals
3/14
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Liberty vs. (5) UTEP.  Predicted winner:  Liberty
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Western Kentucky vs. (6) New Mexico State.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky
3/15 – Semifinals
12:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Sam Houston State vs. (4) Liberty.  Predicted winner:  Sam Houston State
3 p.m. (CBSSN) (7) Middle Tennessee State vs. (3) Western Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky
3/16 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Sam Houston State vs. (3) Western Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech

Ivy League (March 16-17; New York)
3/16 - Semifinals
11 a.m. (ESPNU) (1) Princeton vs. (4) Brown.  Predicted winner:  Princeton
2 p.m. (ESPNews) (2) Yale vs. (3) Cornell.  Predicted winner:  Cornell
3/17 - Finals
12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Princeton vs. (3) Cornell.  Predicted winner:  Princeton

MAAC (March 12-16; Atlantic City, NJ)
Quarterfinals
3/14
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Marist vs. (6) Niagara.  Predicted winner:  Marist
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Rider vs. (5) St. Peter's.  Predicted winner:  St. Peter's
3/15 – Semifinals
6:30 p.m. (ESPNews) (1) Quinnipiac vs. (5) St. Peter's.  Predicted winner:  Quinnipiac
9 p.m. (ESPNews) (2) Fairfield vs. (3) Marist.  Predicted winner:  Fairfield
3/16 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Quinnipiac vs. (2) Fairfield.  Predicted winner:  Quinnipiac

MAC (March 14-16; Cleveland)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
11 a.m. (ESPN+) (1) Toledo vs. (8) Kent State.  Predicted winner:  Toledo
1:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Central Michigan vs. (5) Bowling Green.  Predicted winner:  Bowling Green
4 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Akron vs. (7) Miami (OH).  Predicted winner:  Akron
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Ohio vs. (6) Western Michigan.  Predicted winner:  Ohio
3/15 – Semifinals
5 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Toledo vs. (5) Bowling Green.  Predicted winner:  Toledo
7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Akron vs. (3) Ohio.  Predicted winner:  Akron
3/16 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Toledo vs. (2) Akron.  Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 13-16; Norfolk, VA)
Quarterfinals
3/14
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Howard vs. (5) Morgan State.  Predicted winner:  Howard
8 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) South Carolina State vs. (6) Delaware State.  Predicted winner:  South Carolina State
3/15 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Norfolk State vs. (4) Howard.  Predicted winner:  Norfolk State
8 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) North Carolina Central vs. (3) South Carolina State.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central
3/16 – Final
1:00 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Norfolk State vs. (2) North Carolina Central.  Predicted winner:  Norfolk State

Mountain West (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
3 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Utah State vs. (9) Fresno State.  Predicted winner:  Utah State
5:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) UNLV vs. (5) San Diego State.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State
9 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Nevada vs. (7) Colorado State.  Predicted winner:  Nevada
11:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Boise State vs. (6) New Mexico.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico
3/15 – Semifinals
9:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Utah State vs. (5) San Diego State.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State
11:59 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Nevada vs. (6) New Mexico.  Predicted winner:  Nevada
3/16 – Finals
6 p.m. (CBS) (2) Nevada vs. (5) San Diego State.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State

Pac-12 (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) Arizona vs. (9) USC.  Predicted winner:  Arizona
5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (4) Oregon vs. (5) UCLA.  Predicted winner:  Oregon
9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (2) Washington State vs. (10) Stanford.  Predicted winner:  Washington State
11:30 p.m. (FS1) (3) Colorado vs. (6) Utah.  Predicted winner:  Colorado
3/15 – Semifinals
8 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) Arizona vs. (4) Oregon.  Predicted winner:  Arizona
10:30 p.m. (FS1) (2) Washington State vs. (3) Colorado.  Predicted winner:  Colorado
3/16 – Finals
9 p.m. (Fox) (1) Arizona vs. (3) Colorado.  Predicted winner:  Arizona

SEC (March 13-17; Nashville)
3/14 – Second Round
1 p.m. (SEC Network) (8) LSU vs. (9) Mississippi State.  Predicted winner:  Mississippi State
3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (5) South Carolina vs. (12) Arkansas.  Predicted winner:  South Carolina
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (7) Texas A&M vs. (10) Mississippi.  Predicted winner:  Mississippi
9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (6) Florida vs. (11) Georgia.  Predicted winner:  Florida
3/15 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Tennessee vs. (9) Mississippi State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee
3:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) Auburn vs. (5) South Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Auburn
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) Kentucky vs. (10) Mississippi.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky
9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) Alabama vs. (6) Florida.  Predicted winner:  Alabama
3/16 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Tennessee vs. (4) Auburn.  Predicted winner:  Auburn
3:30 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Kentucky vs. (3) Alabama.  Predicted winner:  Alabama
3/17 – Finals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Alabama vs. (4) Auburn.  Predicted winner:  Auburn

SWAC (March 13-16; Birmingham, AL)
Quarterfinals
3/14
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Texas Southern vs. (6) Jackson State.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Southern vs. (5) Bethune-Cookman.  Predicted winner:  Bethune-Cookman
3/15 – Semifinals
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Grambling vs. (5) Bethune-Cookman.  Predicted winner:  Grambling
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Alabama A&M vs. (3) Texas Southern.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern
3/16 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Grambling vs. (3) Texas Southern.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

WAC (March 13-16; Paradise, NV)
3/14 – Quarterfinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Seattle vs. (8) Cal Baptist.  Predicted winner:  Seattle
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) UT Arlington vs. (6) Stephen F. Austin.  Predicted winner:  UT Arlington
3/15 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Grand Canyon vs. (4) Seattle.  Predicted winner:  Grand Canyon
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPNU) (2) Tarleton* vs. (3) UT Arlington.  Predicted winner:  Tarleton*
3/16 – Finals
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Grand Canyon vs. (2) Tarleton*.  Predicted winner:  Grand Canyon
*Ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-II.  If Tarleton wins the tournament, Grand Canyon will get the automatic bid.