Updated Championship Week Predictions

Three dance cards were punched tonight, if there were such a thing as dance cards.  First, the LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds mounted Mt. St. Mary's to take the NEC title.  Both late games were pretty good.  Valpo held off Wright State for the Horizon crown, and the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State earned their second NCAA bid in school history (and second in as many years) with a close win over North Dakota State.  Madness!

Tomorrow, the Big 12, Conference USA, Pac-12, SEC, and Southland tournaments get  under way, and the meat of the Big East gets going, now that the two horrible first round games are done (forever). 

Only one bid is up for grabs (times are Eastern):

Patriot League - 7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) Lafayette at (1) Bucknell

Here is who has already clinched an automatic berth, as well as my predictions for the remaining conference tournaments.  (Note:  The Great West Conference holds a tournament, but does not receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, so I am not including it here.)

Already clinched automatic berths (I added in parentheses the number of NCAA tournament appearances, including the bid just clinched):

Atlantic Sun:  Florida Gulf Coast (1)

Big South:  Liberty (3)

Colonial:  James Madison (5)

Horizon:  Valparaiso (8)

Ivy League:  Harvard (3)

MAAC:  Iona (10)

MVC:  Creighton (18)

NEC:  LIU-Brooklyn (6)

OVC:  Belmont (6)

Southern:  Davidson

Summit:  South Dakota State (2)

Sun Belt:  Western Kentucky (23)

West Coast:  Gonzaga (16)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern):

ACC (March 14-17; Greensboro)

3/14 – First Round

12 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) Boston College vs. (9) Georgia Tech.  Winner:  Georgia Tech

2 p.m. (ESPNU) (5) NC State vs. (12) Virginia Tech.  Winner:  NC State

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) Maryland vs. (10) Wake Forest.  Winner:  Maryland

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (6) Florida State vs. (11) Clemson.  Winner:  Florida

3/15 - Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Miami vs. (9) Georgia Tech.  Winner:  Miami

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Virginia vs. (5) NC State.  Winner:  NC State

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Duke vs. (7) Maryland.  Winner:  Duke

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) North Carolina vs. (6) Florida State

3/16 - Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Miami vs. (5) NC State.  Winner:  Miami

3 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Duke vs. (3) North Carolina.  Winner:  Duke

3/17 - Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Miami vs. (2) Duke.  Winner:  Duke

America East (March 9-10, 16; Albany, then the highest remaining seed hosts final)

Finals – 3/16

11:30 a.m. (ESPN2) (4) Albany at (2) Vermont.  Winner:  Vermont

Atlantic 10 (March 14-17; Brooklyn)

3/14 – First Round

12 p.m. (NBC Sports) (8) Richmond vs. (9) Charlotte.  Winner:  Charlotte

2:30 p.m. (NBC Sports) (5) Butler vs. (12) Dayton.  Winner:  Butler

6:30 p.m. (NBC Sports) (7) Xavier vs. (10) St. Joseph's.  Winner:  Xavier

9 p.m. (NBC Sports) (6) UMass vs. (11) George Washington.  Winner:  UMass

3/15 - Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (NBC Sports) (1) St. Louis vs. (9) Charlotte.  Winner:  St. Louis

2:30 p.m. (NBC Sports) (4) LaSalle vs. (5) Butler.  Winner:  Butler

6:30 p.m. (NBC Sports) (2) VCU vs. (7) Xavier.  Winner:  VCU

9 p.m. (NBC Sports) (3) Temple vs. (6) UMass.  Winner:  Temple

3/16 - Semifinals

1:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) St. Louis vs. (5) Butler.  Winner:  Butler

4 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) VCU vs. (3) Temple.  Winner:  VCU

3/17 - Finals

1 p.m. (CBS) (2) VCU vs. (5) Butler.  Winner:  Butler

Big 12 (March 13-16; Kansas City)

3/13 – First Round

7 p.m. (Big 12 Network) (8) West Virginia vs. (9) Texas Tech.  Winner:  West Virginia

9:30 p.m. (Big 12 Network) (7) Texas vs. (10) TCU.  Winner:  Texas

3/14 - Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Oklahoma vs. (5) Iowa State.  Winner:  Iowa State

3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Kansas vs. (8) West Virginia.  Winner:  Kansas

7 p.m. (Big 12 Network) (2) Kansas State vs. (7) Texas.  Winner:  Kansas State

9:30 p.m. (Big 12 Network) (3) Oklahoma State vs. (6) Baylor.  Winner:  Oklahoma State

3/15 - Semifinals

7:30 p.m. (ESPNU/Big 12 Network) (1) Kansas vs. (5) Iowa State.  Winner:  Kansas

9 p.m. (ESPNU/Big 12 Network) (2) Kansas State vs. (3) Oklahoma State.  Winner:  Kansas State

3/16 - Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Kansas vs. (2) Kansas State.  Winner:  Kansas

Big East (March 12-16; New York)

3/13 – Second Round

12 p.m. (ESPN) (8) Providence vs. (9) Cincinnati.  Winner:  Cincinnati

2 p.m. (ESPN) (5) Syracuse vs. (12) Seton Hall.  Winner: Syracuse

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) Villanova vs. (10) St. John's.  Winner:  Villanova

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) Notre Dame vs. (11) Rutgers.  Winner:  Notre Dame

3/14 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Georgetown vs. (9) Cincinnati.  Winner:  Georgetown

2 p.m. (ESPN) (4) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Syracuse.  Winner:  Syracuse

7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Louisville vs. (7) Villanova.  Winner:  Louisville

9 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Marquette vs. (6) Notre Dame.  Winner:  Notre Dame

3/15 - Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Georgetown vs. (5) Syracuse.  Winner:  Syracuse

9 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Louisville vs. (6) Notre Dame.  Winner:  Louisville

3/16 - Finals

8:30 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Louisville vs. (5) Syracuse.  Winner:  Louisville

Big Sky (March 14-16; Missoula, MT)

3/14 - Quarterfinals

5 p.m. (BigSky TV) (2) Weber State vs. (7) Northern Arizona.  Winner:  Weber State

7:30 p.m. (BigSky TV) (3) North Dakota vs. (6) Southern Utah.  Winner:  North Dakota

10 p.m. (BigSky TV) (4) Montana State vs. (5) Northern Colorado.  Winner:  Montana State

3/15 - Semifinals

7:30 p.m. (BigSky TV) (2) Weber State vs. (3) North Dakota.  Winner:  Weber State

10 p.m. (BigSky TV) (1) Montana vs. (4) Montana State.  Winner: Montana

3/16 - Finals

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Montana vs. (2) Weber State.  Winner:  Montana

Big Ten (March 14-17; Chicago)

3/14 – First Round

12 p.m. (BTN) (8) Illinois vs. (9) Minnesota.  Winner:  Minnesota

2:30 p.m. (BTN) (5) Michigan vs. (12) Penn State.  Winner:  Michigan

6:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) Purdue vs. (10) Nebraska.  Winner:  Purdue

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) Iowa vs. (11) Northwestern.  Winner:  Iowa

3/15 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Indiana vs. (9) Minnesota.  Winner:  Indiana

2:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) Wisconsin vs. (5) Michigan.  Winner:  Michigan

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) Ohio State vs. (7) Purdue.  Winner:  Ohio State

9 p.m. (BTN) (3) Michigan State vs. (6) Iowa.  Winner:  Michigan State

3/16 - Semifinals

1:40 p.m. (CBS) (1) Indiana vs. (5) Michigan.  Winner:  Indiana

4 p.m. (CBS) (2) Ohio State vs. (3) Michigan State.  Winner:  Michigan State

3/17 - Finals

3:30 p.m. (CBS) (1) Indiana vs. (3) Michigan State.  Winner:  Indiana

Big West (March 14-16; Anaheim)

3/14 - Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (FOX Sports Prime Ticket/FOX College Sports – Pacific) (1) Long Beach State vs. (8) Cal State Fullerton.  Winner:  Long Beach State

5:30 p.m. (FOX Sports Prime Ticket/FOX College Sports – Pacific) (2) Pacific vs. (7) UC Santa Barbara.  Winner:  Pacific

9 p.m. (FOX Sports Prime Ticket/FOX College Sports – Pacific) (3) Cal Poly vs. (6) UC Davis.  Winner:  Cal Poly

11:30 p.m. (FOX Sports Prime Ticket/FOX College Sports – Pacific) (4) UC Irvine vs. (5) Hawaii.  Winner:  Hawaii

3/15 - Semifinals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Long Beach State vs. (5) Hawaii.  Winner:  Long Beach State

11:59 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Pacific vs. (3) Cal Poly.  Winner:  Cal Poly

3/16 – Finals

10:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Long Beach State vs. (3) Cal Poly.  Winner:  Long Beach State

Conference USA (March 13-16; Tulsa)

3/13 – First Round

4:30 p.m. (7) UAB vs. (10) SMU.  Winner:  UAB

7 p.m. (6) Houston vs. (11) Rice.  Winner:  Houston

9:30 p.m. (8) Tulane vs. (9) Marshall.  Winner:  Tulane

3/14 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) Southern Mississippi vs. (7) UAB.  Winner:  Southern Mississippi

3:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (3) UTEP vs. (6) Houston.  Winner:  Houston

7 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) Memphis vs. (8) Tulane.  Winner:  Memphis

9:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (4) East Carolina vs. (5) Tulsa.  Winner:  East Carolina

3/15 – Semifinals

4 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) Southern Mississippi vs. (6) Houston.  Winner:  Southern Mississippi

6:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) Memphis vs. (4) East Carolina.  Winner:  Memphis

3/16 – Finals

11:30 a.m. (CBS) (1) Memphis vs. (2) Southern Mississippi.  Winner:  Memphis

MAC (March 11, 13-16; first round at campus sites of higher seed; remaining rounds in Cleveland)

3/13 – Second Round

6:30 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (5) Ball State vs. (8) Buffalo.  Winner:  Ball State

9 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (11) Miami vs. (7) Eastern Michigan.  Winner:  Eastern Michigan

3/14 – Quarterfinals

6:30 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (4) Kent State vs. (5) Ball State.  Winner:  Ball State

9 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (3) Western Michigan vs. (7) Eastern Michigan.  Winner:  Western Michigan

3/15 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (1) Akron vs. (5) Ball State.  Winner:  Akron

9 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (2) Ohio vs. (3) Western Michigan.  Winner:  Ohio

3/16 – Finals

6:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Akron vs. (2) Ohio.  Winner:  Ohio

MEAC (March 11-16; Norfolk, VA)

Quarterfinals

3/13

6:00 p.m. (1) Norfolk State vs. (8) Bethune-Cookman.  Winner:  Norfolk State

8:00 p.m. (2) North Carolina Central vs. (7) North Carolina A&T.  Winner:  North Carolina Central

3/14 - Quarterfinals

6:00 p.m. (3) Hampton vs. (6) Delaware State.  Winner:  Hampton

8:00 p.m. (4) Savannah State vs. (5) Morgan State.  Winner:  Savannah State

3/15 - Semifinals

6:00 p.m. (1) Norfolk State vs. (4) Savannah State.  Winner:  Norfolk State

8:00 p.m. (2) North Carolina Central vs. (3) Hampton.  Winner:  North Carolina Central

3/16 - Final

5:00 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Norfolk State vs. (2) North Carolina Central.  Winner:  Norfolk State

Mountain West (March 12-16; Las Vegas)

3/13 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (CBS Sports) (3) UNLV vs. (6) Air Force.  Winner:  UNLV

5:30 p.m. (2) Colorado State vs. (7) Fresno State.  Winner:  Colorado State

9:30 p.m. (1) New Mexico vs. (8) Wyoming.  Winner:  New Mexico

11:59 p.m. (4) San Diego State vs. (5) Boise State.  Winner:  San Diego State

3/14 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) Colorado State vs. (3) UNLV.  Winner:  Colorado State

11:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) New Mexico vs. (4) San Diego State.  Winner:  New Mexico

3/15 - Finals

6 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) New Mexico vs. (2) Colorado State.  Winner:  New Mexico

Pac-12 (March 13-16; Las Vegas)

3/13 – First Round

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (8) Stanford vs. (9) Arizona State.  Winner:  Arizona State

5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (5) Colorado vs. (12) Oregon State.  Winner:  Colorado

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (7) USC vs. (10) Utah.  Winner:  USC

11:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (6) Washington vs. (11) Washington State.  Winner:  Washington

3/14 - Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) UCLA vs. (9) Arizona State.  Winner:  UCLA

5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (4) Arizona vs. (5) Colorado.  Winner:  Arizona

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (2) California vs. (7) USC.  Winner:  California

11:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) Oregon vs. (6) Washington.  Winner:  Oregon

3/15 - Semifinals

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) UCLA vs. (4) Arizona.  Winner:  Arizona

11:30 p.m. (ESPN) (2) California vs. (3) Oregon.  Winner:  Oregon

3/16 - Finals

11 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Oregon vs. (4) Arizona.  Winner:  Arizona

Patriot League (March 6, 9, 13; campus of higher seed)

3/13 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) Bucknell vs. (2) Lafayette.  Winner:  Bucknell

SEC (March 13-17; Nashville)

3/13 – First Round

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3/SEC Network) (12) South Carolina vs. (13) Mississippi State.  Winner:  Mississippi State

10 p.m. (ESPN3/SEC Network) (11) Texas A&M vs. (14) Auburn.  Winner:  Texas A&M

3/14 – Second Round

1 p.m. (ESPN3/SEC Network) (8) Georgia vs. (9) LSU.  Winner:  Georgia

3:30 p.m. (ESPN3/SEC Network) (5) Tennessee vs. (13) Mississippi State.  Winner:  Tennessee

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3/SEC Network) (7) Arkansas vs. (10) Vanderbilt.  Winner:  Vanderbilt

10 p.m. (ESPN3/SEC Network) (6) Missouri vs. (11) Texas A&M.  Winner:  Missouri

3/15 - Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Florida vs. (8) Georgia.  Winner:  Florida

3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (4) Alabama vs. (5) Tennessee.  Winner:  Tennessee

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3/SEC Network) (2) Kentucky vs. (10) Vanderbilt.  Winner:  Kentucky

10 p.m. (ESPN3/SEC Network) (3) Mississippi vs. (6) Missouri.  Winner:  Mississippi

3/16 - Semifinals

1 p.m. (ABC) (1) Florida vs. (5) Tennessee.  Winner:  Florida

3:30 p.m. (ABC) (2) Kentucky vs. (3) Mississippi.  Winner:  Mississippi

3/17 - Finals

1 p.m. (ABC) (1) Florida vs. (3) Mississippi.  Winner:  Florida

Southland (March 13-16; Katy, TX)

3/13 – First Round

6 p.m. (5) Nicholls State vs. (8) McNeese State.  Winner:  Nicholls State

8:30 p.m. (6) Sam Houston State vs. (7) Central Arkansas.  Winner:  Sam Houston State

3/14 – Second Round

6 p.m. (4) Southeastern Louisiana vs. (5) Nicholls State.  Winner:  Southeastern Louisiana

8:30 p.m. (3) Oral Roberts vs. (6) Sam Houston State.  Winner:  Oral Roberts

3/15 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (4) Southeastern Louisiana.  Winner:  Stephen F. Austin

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Northwestern State vs. (3) Oral Roberts.  Winner:  Oral Roberts

3/16 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (3) Oral Roberts.  Winner:  Stephen F. Austin

SWAC (March 13-16; Garland, TX)

Quarterfinals

3/13

9 p.m. (6) Alabama A&M vs. (7) Grambling State.  Winner:  Grambling State

3/14

1:30 p.m. (2) Jackson State vs. (5) Alabama State.  Winner:  Jackson State

9 p.m. (3) Alcorn State vs. (4) Prairie View A&M.  Winner:  Alcorn State

3/15 - Semifinals

3:30 p.m. (2) Jackson State vs. (3) Alcorn State.  Winner:  Jackson State

6 p.m. (1) Southern vs. (7) Grambling State.  Winner:  Southern

3/16 - Finals

4:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Southern vs. (2) Jackson State.  Winner:  Southern

WAC (March 12, 14-16; Las Vegas)

3/14 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (3) New Mexico State vs. (6) Idaho.  Winner:  New Mexico State

5:30 p.m. (2) Denver vs. (7) Texas State.  Winner:  Denver

9 p.m. (1) Louisiana Tech vs. (9) UTSA.  Winner:  Louisiana Tech

11:30 p.m. (4) UT Arlington vs. (5) Utah State.  Winner:  Utah State

3/15 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (2) Denver vs. (3) New Mexico State.  Winner:  Denver

11:30 p.m. (1) Louisiana Tech vs. (5) Utah State.  Winner:  Louisiana Tech

3/16 – Finals

11 p.m. (1) Louisiana Tech vs. (2) Denver.  Winner:  Louisiana Tech