Tuesday Top Ten: Thin Lizzy Songs Written or Co-Written by Phil Lynott

Since I recently finished reading Phil Lynott's biography, it seems imperative that I tell you which Thin Lizzy songs he wrote or co-wrote are my ten favorite.  About a year and a half ago, I ranked Thin Lizzy's studio albums, and I'll refer you to that post for some more background about the band and its history.  Suffice it to say, Thin Lizzy is one of my favorite bands, and Lynott was the driving catalyst behind nearly all of the band's songs.  He was an amazing songwriter who created worlds that drew you in, and hard rocking riffs and beats that make you want to pump your fists.

To be clear, these are only songs that Lynott wrote or co-wrote.  Otherwise, "Rosalie" (Bob Seger cover) and "Whiskey in the Jar" (traditional Irish folk song) would probably be on the list.  I'm going to list the songs chronologically, and if there are multiple songs from the same album, I'll put them in the order they appear on the album.  Also, I'm only going to say a sentence or two about each, so that you can just listen to the music and enjoy it, without having to worry so damn much about why I love it.  But enough gabbing.  Here are my ten favorite Thin Lizzy songs written or co-written by Lynott.

1.  "The Rocker" (Vagabonds of the Western World, 1973)
Co-written by bandmates Eric Bell and Brian Downey, "The Rocker" was a harbinger of the hard rocking things to come for the band.



2.  "Fighting My Way Back" (Fighting, 1975)
With the Fighting album, the band really came together and went in the direction of hard rock.  "Fighting My Way" back is a great song about getting your ass up off the ground after it has been kicked.

3.  "Jailbreak" (Jailbreak, 1976)

If you've only heard one Thin Lizzy song other than "The Boys Are Back In Town," it's probably "Jailbreak," the first track off of the fantastic 1976 album of the same name.  This song just kicks ass.  That riff is one of the best ever.

4.  "Cowboy Song" (Jailbreak, 1976)
Co-written with Downey, "Cowboy Song" is one of my favorite Thin Lizzy songs, hands down.  I don't know why this only hit #77 on the Billboard Hot 100, since it seems like it could have (and should have) been a '70s rock anthem in the States.  My favorite aspect of the song is that it has not one, but two, wicked guitar solos. As someone in the YouTube comments said, "The best rock song about the American west ever, written by an Irish black dude."


5.  "Don't Believe a Word" (Johnny the Fox, 1976)
This was the song that made me fall in love with Thin Lizzy.  I first heard it on Def Leppard's 2006 covers album Yeah!, and I thought it was fantastic, so I checked out the original, and it's even better.  It's a short, fast-paced song in which the narrator basically tells a woman not trust a damn thing that comes out of his mouth.  Is he a dick or is he just protecting himself from heartbreak if she doesn't return his affection?  That's what I love about the song.


6.  "Opium Trail" (Bad Reputation, 1977)
Co-written with Downey and guitarist Scott Gorham, this is one of the many songs in the latter half of Lizzy's career that tackles the issue of drug addition, with which both Lynott and Gorham were painfully familiar.


7.  "Toughest Street In Town" (Black Rose: A Rock Legend, 1979)
Co-written by Gorham and guitarist Gary Moore, "Toughest Street In Town" tells a gritty tale of life on the street, set to raucous guitars and Lynott's wailing and brooding vocals.  (For some more in-depth thoughts I have about the song, click here.)


8.  "Róisín Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend" (Black Rose: A Rock Legend, 1979)
Co-written with Moore, this song is an ode to Irish history and mythology, from Cú Chulainn to Oscar Wilde, with snippets of traditional Irish songs thrown in.  It's no wonder that this always tops my list of Top Ten St. Patrick's Day Songs (an updated version will be coming soon!).


9.  "Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)" (Renegade, 1981)
Co-written with Gorham, this is another gritty song about, as the title implies, being down on your luck in Hollywood.  I always took this song and some others on this album to be kind of a veiled cry for help from Lynott.


10.  "Cold Sweat" (Thunder and Lightning, 1983)

Co-written with guitarist John Sykes, this "Cold Sweat" is a far cry from the James Brown song of the same name (although both are fantastic).  This is a blistering hard rock song on what would be the band's final album -- a glimpse into what the band could have done in the hard-rocking mid '80s had they stayed together.

Honorable mention:  "Sha La La" (Nightlife, 1974), "The Boys Are Back In Town" (Jailbreak, 1976), "Emerald" (Jailbreak, 1976), "Johnny" (Johnny The Fox, 1976), "Southbound" (Bad Reputation, 1977), "Do Anything You Want To" (Black Rose: A Rock Legend, 1979), "Get Out of Here" (Black Rose: A Rock Legend, 1979), "We Will Be Strong" (Chinatown, 1980), "Killer On The Loose" (Chinatown, 1980), "No One Told Him" (Renegade, 1981), "Thunder and Lightning" (Thunder and Lightning, 1983)

New Book: I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir by Brian Wilson with Ben Greenman

A couple weeks ago, I finished reading Phil Lynott: The Rocker by Mark Putterford.  All in all, it was a pretty solid read, and a must for any Thin Lizzy fan.  As the co-founder, lead singer, bassist, and lead songwriter of Thin Lizzy, Lynott was a mercurial and charismatic rock star.  Born out of wedlock to a white Irish mother and a black South American man, he was raised mainly in Dublin by his grandparents, while his mother and stepfather ran a hotel in Manchester.  Sticking out like a sore thumb didn't get Lynott down, and he found music at a relatively young age, eventually forming Thin Lizzy in 1969.  During the '70s, Thin Lizzy became the first internationally successful Irish rock band.  Bad luck seemed to get in the way of huge success in America, where the band only charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with "The Boys Are Back In Town" (#12), "Cowboy Song" (#77), and "Do Anything You Want To" (#81).  However, in their native Ireland, the UK, and Europe, they were much more commercially successful, scoring 14 Top 40 hits in the UK (including 4 Top 10), 9 Top 10 albums on the UK charts, along with 17 Top 40 hits on the Irish pop charts (including 7 Top 10s and 2 #1s).  Sadly, the rock star lifestyle was too enticing for Lynott, and he became addicted to heroin, which led to his death in January 1986.  Thin Lizzy has become one of my favorite bands over the past ten years or so, and I'd put Lynott's ability to tell a story in a song right up there with Springsteen, Van Morrison, and Dylan.  Still very much beloved in Ireland, in 2005, a life-size bronze statue of Lynott was erected in Dublin in 2005, and sits on Harry Street, just off of Grafton Street (if you happen to be in Dublin any time soon).

From the front man of the greatest Irish rock band of all-time to the front man of arguably the greatest American band of all-time, I have since started reading I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir by Brian Wilson with Ben Greenman.  The Beach Boys were my first favorite band, and there are very few people who can claim they have influenced music over the last 55 years as much as Brian Wilson has.  The man was (and is) a musical genius, who had his own issues with substance abuse, and then an overbearing psychiatrist.  But at least he's still alive.

Books read in 2017:
-X-Ray: The Unauthorized Autobiography by Ray Davies
-Phil Lynott: The Rocker by Mark Putterford

Updated Championship Week Predictions

Last night in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun, there weren't any real upsets.  The top three seeds (Florida Gulf Coast, Lipscomb, and North Florida, respectively) all won, and 5-seed Kennesaw State topped 4-seed South Carolina Upstate –- which means that NJIT, South Carolina Upstate, and Stetson's dreams of going to a first NCAA Tournament will have to wait for at least another year. 

The A-Sun takes a break for a few days, but we have two more tourneys starting up tonight, as the Big South and Patriot League Tournaments get underway.  Before things start to get crazy later this week and while we can still focus on such things, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some of the great nicknames from the Big South:  Campbell Fighting Camels, Longwood Lancers (this wouldn't be as good if the name of the school was anything other than Longwood), Presbyterian Blue Hose, and Radford Highlanders.

But more importantly, will this be the year Gardner-Webb, High Point, Longwood, or Presbyterian in the Big South, or Army in the Patriot League punches its first ticket to the Big Dance?  Army is one of the five original Division 1 men's basketball teams –- along with The Citadel, Northwestern, St. Francis (NY), and William & Mary –- that have never played in an NCAA Tournament.  Of those five, Northwestern has the best chance of making the Big Dance this year.  Army is the 8-seed (out of 10) in the Patriot League, The Citadel is the 9-seed in the SoCon Tournament (out of 10), St. Francis (NY) didn't even qualify for the NEC Tournament, and William & Mary is the 4-seed in the CAA and would likely have to go through UNC-Wilmington and Charleston to win the title.  Chances are slim for Army, The Citadel, and William & Mary, but then again, that's why you play the game. 

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

-Big South

-Patriot League

Tournaments with games today

-Big South

-Patriot League

Bids up for grabs today

-None

Already clinched automatic berths (I will add in parentheses the NCAA tournament appearances for each school, including the bid just clinched)

-None

Because I am unhealthily obsessed with college basketball in March –- to the detriment of my marriage, children, friendships, work, sleep schedule, sanity, and wallet -- I have not only listed out every game and my predictions, but the date, time, and TV station(s) on which the game will appear, even if it's just local, regional, or online, to the extent that information is available.  Some conference tournament websites are better than others.  I want this to be as comprehensive as possible, so that you can always come here to figure out when any given team is playing.  I love you so much, you guys.  Don't you ever forget it.

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern; to the extent there are teams that have clinched seeds in tournament fields that are not completely set, I will put those in)

AAC (March 9-12; Hartford)

3/9 – First Round

3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9)

6 p.m. (ESPNews) (7) vs. (10)

8 p.m. (ESPNews) (6) vs. (11)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/11 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN2)

5 p.m. (ESPN2)

3/12 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  SMU

ACC (March 7-11; Brooklyn)

3/7 – First Round

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (12) vs. (13)

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (10) vs. (15)

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (11) vs. (14)

3/8 – Second Round

12 p.m. (ESPN) (8) vs. (9)

2 p.m. (ESPN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) vs. (10)/(15)

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (ESPN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/10 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/11 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Louisville

America East (March 1, 6, 11; campus of higher seeds)

3/1 – Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Maine at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Binghamton at (2) Stony Brook.  Predicted winner:  Stony Brook

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) Hartford at (3) Albany.  Predicted winner:  Albany

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) New Hampshire at (4) UMBC.  Predicted winner:  New Hampshire

3/6 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) New Hampshire at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Albany at (2) Stony Brook.  Predicted winner:  Stony Brook

3/11 – Finals

11 a.m. (ESPN2) (2) Stony Brook at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

Atlantic 10 (March 8-12; Pittsburgh)

3/8 – First Round

6 p.m. (ASN) (12) vs. (13)

8:30 p.m. (ASN) (11) vs. (14)

3/9 – Second Round

12 p.m. (NBCSN) (8) vs. (9)

2:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

6 p.m. (NBCSN) (7) vs. (10)

8:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (NBCSN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (NBCSN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

6 p.m. (NBCSN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

8:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/11 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBSSN)

3:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/12 – Finals

12:30 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Dayton

Atlantic Sun (February 27, March 2, 5; campus of higher seed)

3/2 – Semifinals

TBD (ESPN3) (4) Kennesaw State at (1) Florida Gulf Coast.  Predicted winner:  Florida Gulf Coast

TBD (ESPN3) (3) North Florida at (2) Lipscomb.  Predicted winner:  Lipscomb

3/5 – Finals

3 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Lipscomb at (1) Florida Gulf Coast.  Predicted winner:  Florida Gulf Coast

Big 12 (March 8-11; Kansas City)

3/8 – First Round

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9)

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) vs. (10)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)

2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Kansas vs. (8)/(9)

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) vs. (6)

3/10 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/11 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Kansas

Big East (March 8-11; New York)

3/8 – First Round

7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (8) vs. (9)

9:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (7) vs. (10) DePaul

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (1) Villanova vs. (8)/(9)

2:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (4) vs. (5)

7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (2) Butler vs. (7)/(10)

9:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (3) vs. (6)

3/10 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

9:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

3/11 – Finals

5:30 p.m. (Fox)

Predicted winner:  Butler

Big Sky (March 7, 9-11; Reno)

3/7 – First Round

5:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (8) vs. (9)

8:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (7) vs. (10)

11:05 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (6) vs. (11)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

3:05 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

5:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (4) vs. (5)

8:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:05 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/10 – Semifinals

8:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky)

11:05 p.m. (Watch Big Sky)

3/11 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Eastern Washington

Big South (February 28, March 2-3, 5; first round at campus sites, quarterfinals and semis at home of #1 seed, finals at home of highest-remaining seed)

2/28 – First Round

7 p.m. (Big South Network) (9) Longwood at (8) Charleston Southern.  Predicted winner:  Charleston Southern

7 p.m. (Big South Network) (10) Presbyterian at (7) Campbell.  Predicted winner:  Campbell

3/2 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) UNC-Asheville vs. (7) Campbell.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Asheville

3 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Liberty vs. (6) Radford.  Predicted winner:  Liberty

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Winthrop vs. (8) Charleston Southern.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

9 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Gardner-Webb vs. (5) High Point.  Predicted winner:  Gardner-Webb

3/3 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) UNC-Asheville vs. (3) Liberty.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Asheville

9 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Winthrop vs. (4) Gardner-Webb.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

3/5 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (2) UNC-Asheville at (1) Winthrop.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

Big Ten (March 8-12; Washington, DC)

3/8 – First Round

4:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (12) vs. (13)

7 p.m. (BTN) (11) vs. (14) Rutgers

3/9 – Second Round

12 p.m. (BTN) (8) vs. (9)

2:30 p.m. (BTN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

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

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (BTN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/11 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBS)

3:30 p.m. (CBS)

3/12 – Finals

3 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Indiana

Big West (March 9-11; Anaheim)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (1) vs. (8)

5:30 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (4) vs. (5)

9 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (3) vs. (6)

11:30 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (2) vs. (7)

3/10 – Semifinals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN3/ESPNU – tape delayed) highest remaining seed vs. lowest remaining seed

11:59 p.m. (ESPNU) other two quarterfinal winners

3/11 – Finals

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  UC Irvine

CAA (March 3-6; North Charleston, SC)

3/3 – First Round

6 p.m. (CAA.TV) (8) Hofstra vs. (9) Delaware.  Predicted winner:  Hofstra

8:30 p.m. (CAA.TV) (7) James Madison vs. (10) Drexel.  Predicted winner:  James Madison

3/4 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (1) UNC-Wilmington vs. (8) Hofstra.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Wilmington

2:30 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (4) William & Mary vs. (5) Elon.  Predicted winner:  Elon

6 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (2) Charleston vs. (7) James Madison.  Predicted winner:  Charleston

8:30 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (3) Towson vs. (6) Northeastern.  Predicted winner:  Towson

3/5 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (1) UNC-Wilmington vs. (5) Elon.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Wilmington

4:30 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (2) Charleston vs. (3) Towson. Predicted winner:  Charleston

3/6 – Finals

7 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) UNC-Wilmington vs. (2) Charleston.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Wilmington

Conference USA (March 8-11; Birmingham, AL)

3/8 – First Round

12:30 p.m. (Campus Insiders) (7) vs. (10)

3 p.m. (Campus Insiders) (6) vs. (11)

7 p.m. (Campus Insiders) (8) vs. (9)

9:30 p.m. (Campus Insiders) (5) vs. (12)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ASN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

3 p.m. (ASN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

8 p.m. (ASN) (1) Middle Tennessee State vs. (8)/(9)

9:30 p.m. (ASN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

3/10 – Semifinals

12:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/11 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

Predicted winner:  Middle Tennessee State

Horizon (March 3-7; Detroit)

3/3 – First Round

5:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Detroit vs. (10) Milwaukee.  Predicted winner:Detroit

8 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Cleveland State vs. (9) Youngstown State.  Predicted winner:  Youngstown State

Second Round

3/4

5:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Oakland vs. (9) Youngstown State.  Predicted winner:  Oakland

8 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Valparaiso vs. (7) Detroit.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

3/5

5 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Green Bay vs. (6) Illinois-Chicago.  Predicted winner:  Green Bay

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Northern Kentucky vs. (5) Wright State.  Predicted winner:  Wright State

3/6 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Oakland vs. (5) Wright State.  Predicted winner:  Oakland

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Valparaiso vs. (3) Green Bay.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

3/7 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Oakland vs. (2) Valparaiso.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

Ivy League (March 11-12; Philadelphia)

3/11 – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) vs. (4)

4 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (3)

3/12 – Finals

12 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Princeton

MAAC (March 2-6; Albany, NY)

3/2 – First Round

5 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Quinnipiac vs. (9) Niagara.  Predicted winner:  Quinnipiac

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Canisius vs. (10) Marist.  Predicted winner:  Canisius

9 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) Rider vs. (11) Manhattan.  Predicted winner:  Rider

Quarterfinals

3/3

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Monmouth vs. (8) Quinnipiac.  Predicted winner:  Monmouth

9:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) St. Peter's vs. (7) Canisius.  Predicted winner:  St. Peter's

3/4

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Iona vs. (6) Rider.  Predicted winner:  Iona

9:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Siena vs. (5) Fairfield.  Predicted winner:  Fairfield

3/5 – Semifinals

4:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Monmouth vs. (5) Fairfield.  Predicted winner:  Monmouth

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) St. Peter's vs. (3) Iona.  Predicted winner:  St. Peter's

3/6 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Monmouth vs. (2) St. Peter's.  Predicted winner:  Monmouth

MAC (March 6, 9-11; first round at campus of higher seed and remaining rounds in Cleveland)

3/6 – First Round

TBD (12) at (5)

TBD (9) at (8)

TBD (10) at (7)

TBD (11) at (6)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Spectrum Sports/BCSN/ESPN3) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2:30 p.m. (Spectrum Sports/BCSN/ESPN3) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

6:30 p.m. (Spectrum Sports/BCSN/ESPN3 ) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (Spectrum Sports/BCSN/ESPN3) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/10 – Semifinals

5:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

8 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/11 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 6-11; Norfolk, VA)

First Round

3/6

5 p.m. (5) vs. (12)

7 p.m. (6) vs. (11)

3/7

4 p.m. (8) vs. (9)

6 p.m. (7) vs. (10)

Quarterfinals

3/8

6 p.m. (1) North Carolina Central vs. (8)/(9)

8 p.m. (2) vs. (7)/(10)

3/9

6 p.m. (3) vs. (6)/(11)

8 p.m. (4) vs. (5)/(12)

3/10 – Semifinals

6:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

3/11 – Final

1:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central

Missouri Valley (March 2-5; St. Louis)

3/2 – First Round

7:05 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Evansville vs. (9) Indiana State.  Predicted winner:  Evansville

9:35 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Bradley vs. (10) Drake.  Predicted winner:  Bradley

3/3 – Quarterfinals

1:05 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Illinois State vs. (8) Evansville.  Predicted winner:  Illinois State

3:35 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Southern Illinois vs. (5) Loyola (IL).  Predicted winner:  Loyola (IL)

7:05 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Wichita State vs. (7) Bradley.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State

9:35 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Northern Iowa vs. (6) Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  Missouri State

3/4 – Semifinals

3:35 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Illinois State vs. (5) Loyola (IL).  Predicted winner:  Illinois State

6:05 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Wichita State vs. (6) Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State

3/5 – Finals

2:05 p.m. (CBS) (1) Illinois State vs. (2) Wichita State.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State

Mountain West (March 8-11; Las Vegas)

3/8 – First Round

2 p.m. (Mountain West Network) (8) vs. (9)

4:30 p.m. (Mountain West Network) (7) vs. (10)

7 p.m. (Mountain West Network) (6) vs. (11)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

5:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) vs. (5)

9 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/10 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (CBSSN)

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/11 – Finals

6 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Colorado State

Northeast Conference (March 1, 4, 7; campus of higher seed)

3/1 – Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (8) Sacred Heart at (1) Mount St. Mary's.  Predicted winner:  Mount St. Mary's

7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (7) Robert Morris at (2) LIU-Brooklyn.  Predicted winner:  LIU-Brooklyn

7 p.m. (MSG+, Fox College Sports, NEC Front Row) (6) Fairleigh Dickinson at (3) Wagner.  Predicted winner:  Wagner

9 p.m. (MSG+, Fox College Sports, NEC Front Row) (5) Bryant at (4) St. Francis (PA).  Predicted winner:  St. Francis (PA)

3/4 – Semifinals

12 p.m. or 2 p.m. (MSG, Fox College Sports, NEC Front Row) (4) St. Francis (PA) at (1) Mount St. Mary's.  Predicted winner:  Mount St. Mary's

12 p.m. or 2 p.m. (MSG, Fox College Sports, NEC Front Row) (3) Wagner at (2) LIU-Brooklyn.  Predicted winner:  LIU-Brooklyn

3/7 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) LIU-Brooklyn at (2) Mount St. Mary's.  Predicted winner:  LIU-Brooklyn

Ohio Valley (March 1-4; Nashville)

3/1 – First Round

7:30 p.m. (OVCDN) (5) Southeast Missouri State vs. (8) Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee State

9:30 p.m. (OVCDN) (6) Tennessee Tech vs. (7) Murray State.  Predicted winner:  Murray State

3/2 – Second Round

7:30 p.m. (OVCDN) (4) Jacksonville State vs. (8) Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee State

9:30 p.m. (OVCDN) (3) Morehead State vs. (7) Murray State.  Predicted winner:  Morehead State

3/3 – Semifinals

7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Belmont vs. (8) Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Belmont

10 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Tennessee-Martin vs. (3) Morehead State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee-Martin

3/4 – Finals

8 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Belmont vs. (2) Tennessee-Martin.  Predicted winner:  Belmont

Pac-12 (March 8-11; Las Vegas)

3/8 – First Round

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (8) vs. (9)

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

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (7) vs. (10)

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

3/9 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/10 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

11:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3/11 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Oregon

Patriot League (February 28, March 2, 5, 8; campus of higher seed)

2/28 – First Round

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (9) American at (8) Army.  Predicted winner:  Army

7:30 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (10) Lafayette at (7) Loyola (MD).  Predicted winner:  Loyola (MD)

3/2 – Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (8) Army at (1) Bucknell.  Predicted winner:  Bucknell

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (5) Holy Cross at (4) Navy.  Predicted winner:  Holy Cross

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (7) Loyola (MD) at (2) Boston University.  Predicted winner:  Boston University

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (6) Colgate at (3) Lehigh.  Predicted winner:  Lehigh

3/5 – Semifinals

12 or 2 p.m. (CBSSN) (5) Holy Cross at (1) Bucknell.  Predicted winner:  Bucknell

12 or 2 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Lehigh at (2) Boston University.  Predicted winner:  Lehigh

3/8 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Lehigh at (1) Bucknell.  Predicted winner:  Bucknell

SEC (March 8-12; Nashville)

3/8 – First Round

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (12) vs. (13)

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (11) vs. (14)

3/9 – Second Round

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (8) vs. (9)

3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (7) vs. (10)

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/11 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3/12 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Kentucky

Southern Conference (March 3-6; Asheville, NC)

3/3 – First Round

5 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Western Carolina vs. (9) The Citadel.  Predicted winner:  The Citadel

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Samford vs. (10) VMI.  Predicted winner:  Samford

3/4 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) UNC-Greensboro vs. (9) The Citadel.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Greensboro

2:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Chattanooga vs. (5) Wofford.  Predicted winner:  Chattanooga

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Furman vs. (7) Samford.  Predicted winner:  Furman

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) East Tennessee State vs. (6) Mercer.  Predicted winner:  East Tennessee State

3/5 – Semifinals

5 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) UNC-Greensboro v. (4) Chattanooga.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Greensboro

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Furman vs. (3) East Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  East Tennessee State

3/6 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) UNC-Greensboro vs. (3) East Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  East Tennessee State

Southland (March 8-11; Katy, TX)

3/8 – First Round

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) vs. (8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) vs. (7)

3/9 – Second Round

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) vs. (5)/(8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) vs. (6)/(7)

3/10 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) vs. (4)/(5)/(8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)

3/11 – Finals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  New Orleans

Summit (March 4-7; Sioux Falls, SD)

Quarterfinals

3/4

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (1) South Dakota vs. (8) Western Illinois.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (2) North Dakota State vs. (7) IUPUI.  Predicted winner:  North Dakota State

3/5

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (4) South Dakota State vs. (5) Denver.  Predicted winner:  Denver

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (3) Nebraksa-Omaha vs. (6) IPFW.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

3/6 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (1) South Dakota vs. (5) Denver.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (2) North Dakota State vs. (6) IPFW.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

3/7 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Dakota vs. (6) IPFW.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

Sun Belt (March 8, 10-12; New Orleans)

3/8 – First Round

12:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) vs. (9)

3 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) vs. (12)

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) vs. (10)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) vs. (11)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

3 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/11 – Semifinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

3 p.m. (ESPN3)

3/12 – Finals

2 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  UT-Arlington

SWAC (March 7, 10-11; quarterfinals at campus of higher seed, remaining games in Houston)

3/7 – Quarterfinals

TBD (8) at (1)

TBD (5) at (4)

TBD (6) at (3)

TBD (7) at (2)

3/10 – Semifinals

TBD

TBD

3/11 – Finals

TBD (TBD)

Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

WAC (March 9-11; Las Vegas)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

5 p.m. (4) vs. (5)

7:30 p.m. (2) New Mexico State vs. (7) Chicago State

10 p.m. (3) UMKC vs. (6) UT Rio Grande Valley

3/10 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (1) Cal State Bakersfield vs. (4)/(5)

11:30 p.m.

3/11 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Cal State Bakersfield

West Coast (March 3-4, 6-7; Las Vegas)

3/3 – First Round

9 p.m. (BYUtv, TheW.tv) (8) Pepperdine vs. (9) Pacific.  Predicted winner:  Pacific

11 p.m. (BYUtv, TheW.tv) (7) San Diego vs. (10) Portland.  Predicted winner:  San Diego

3/4 – Quarterfinals

4 p.m. (Spectrum SportsNet, CSN BA, ROOT RM, BYUtv, TheW.tv) (3) BYU vs. (6) Loyola Marymount.  Predicted winner:  BYU

6 p.m. (Spectrum SportsNet, CSN BA, ROOT RM, BYUtv, TheW.tv) (4) Santa Clara vs. (5) San Francisco.  Predicted winner:  San Francisco

10 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Gonzaga vs. (9) Pacific.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

11:59 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) St. Mary's vs. (7) San Diego.  Predicted winner:  St. Mary's

3/6 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (5) San Francisco.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) St. Mary's vs. (3) BYU.  Predicted winner:  St. Mary's

3/7 - Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (2) St. Mary's.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

Championship Week is Here!

If last night's Academy Awards Best Picture announcement debacle taught us anything it was the following:  (1) fifty years after Bonnie and Clyde, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway can still mesmerize and create controversy when on screen together; (2) someone at PWC is getting fired; (3) live TV is awesome; and (4) most importantly, the Madness has arrived before March this year.

And those last two extend beyond Hollywood, for Championship Week is upon us!  The most exciting month of sports begins today.  Between tonight's match-ups in the opening rounds of the Atlantic Sun Tournament and the final horn in the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship game on March 12, 325 teams will play a total of 294 conference tournament games.  32 teams will be crowned conference champions, earning automatic bids to the greatest tournament in sports:  the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament.  This year is an historic one, as it marks the first time that all 32 conferences will hold tournaments, with the Ivy League holding a tournament for the first time.

As you may know, this is my favorite time of the sporting year.  Championship Week and the NCAA Tournament are more dramatic than the playoffs in any of the four major pro sports and any other major college sport.  The urgency and immediacy of one-and-done college basketball is unrivaled.  Seniors play their last games, and for all but a handful, not only will they finish their college careers with a loss, but likely their basketball careers.  On the other end of the spectrum, watching a low-major or mid-major team win its conference tournament to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth is one of the purest forms of elation you will ever see.

Teams who have no business competing put together storybook runs.  Teams who should dominate fall apart.  You and your team have hope until that hope is lost.  Hell, in last year's Championship Week, 21 of the 31 conference tournament winners were not the top-seeded team, and 9 of the 31 tournament winners were seeded 4 or lower:

4-seed:  6 (St. Joseph's (Atlantic 10); Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun); UNC-Asheville (Big South); Green Bay (Horizon); Northern Iowa (MVC); Southern (SWAC))

5-seed:  1 (UConn (AAC))

8-seed:  1 (Austin Peay (OVC))

9-seed:  1 (Holy Cross (Patriot))

And, of course, as the last ten NCAA Tournaments have shown us –- with the likes of Butler, BYU, Cornell, Davidson, Dayton, Florida Gulf Coast, Gonzaga, LaSalle, Northern Iowa, Ohio, Richmond, San Diego State, St. Mary's, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, Wichita State, VCU, and Xavier all making it to the Sweet Sixteen or beyond -- mid-majors and low-majors should not be overlooked in the Big Dance.  Consider Championship Week your opportunity to beef up your knowledge of this year's college basketball teams before you fill out your brackets in two short weeks.

Over the next two weeks, I will be making Championship Week predictions as conference tournaments begin and/or are seeded.  Thus far, 12 conferences have ended their regular seasons and set their conference tournament brackets.  I'll try to update this daily.

As a frame of reference, of my initial Championship Week predictions last year, I was 11 of 31 in correctly predicting the eventual conference tournament champion.  This, of course, means absolutely nothing, and nor do my predictions, apparently.  This college basketball season has been just as unpredictable as last year, so I don't expect a better percentage this year.

The first bids to be clinched will be this weekend:

-Ohio Valley:  March 4

-Atlantic Sun:  March 5

-Big South:  March 5

-Missouri Valley:  March 5

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

-Atlantic Sun

Tournaments with games today

-Atlantic Sun

Bids up for grabs today

-None

Already clinched automatic berths (I will add in parentheses the NCAA tournament appearances for each school, including the bid just clinched)

-None

Because I am unhealthily obsessed with college basketball in March –- to the detriment of my marriage, children, friendships, work, sleep schedule, sanity, and wallet -- I have not only listed out every game and my predictions, but the date, time, and TV station(s) on which the game will appear, even if it's just local, regional, or online, to the extent that information is available.  Some conference tournament websites are better than others.  I want this to be as comprehensive as possible, so that you can always come here to figure out when any given team is playing.  I love you so much, you guys.  Don't you ever forget it.

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern; to the extent there are teams that have clinched seeds in tournament fields that are not completely set, I will put those in)

AAC (March 9-12; Hartford)

3/9 – First Round

3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9)

6 p.m. (ESPNews) (7) vs. (10)

8 p.m. (ESPNews) (6) vs. (11)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/11 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN2)

5 p.m. (ESPN2)

3/12 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  SMU

ACC (March 7-11; Brooklyn)

3/7 – First Round

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (12) vs. (13)

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (10) vs. (15)

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (11) vs. (14)

3/8 – Second Round

12 p.m. (ESPN) (8) vs. (9)

2 p.m. (ESPN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) vs. (10)/(15)

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (ESPN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/10 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/11 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Louisville

America East (March 1, 6, 11; campus of higher seeds)

3/1 – Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Maine at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Binghamton at (2) Stony Brook.  Predicted winner:  Stony Brook

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) Hartford at (3) Albany.  Predicted winner:  Albany

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) New Hampshire at (4) UMBC.  Predicted winner:  New Hampshire

3/6 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) New Hampshire at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Albany at (2) Stony Brook.  Predicted winner:  Stony Brook

3/11 – Finals

11 a.m. (ESPN2) (2) Stony Brook at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

Atlantic 10 (March 8-12; Pittsburgh)

3/8 – First Round

6 p.m. (ASN) (12) vs. (13)

8:30 p.m. (ASN) (11) vs. (14)

3/9 – Second Round

12 p.m. (NBCSN) (8) vs. (9)

2:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

6 p.m. (NBCSN) (7) vs. (10)

8:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (NBCSN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (NBCSN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

6 p.m. (NBCSN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

8:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/11 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBSSN)

3:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/12 – Finals

12:30 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Dayton

Atlantic Sun (February 27, March 2, 5; campus of higher seed)

2/27 – Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) South Carolina Upstate at (4) Kennesaw State.  Predicted winner:  South Carolina Upstate

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Stetson at (1) Florida Gulf Coast.  Predicted winner:  Florida Gulf Coast

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) Jacksonville at (3) North Florida.  Predicted winner:  North Florida

8:00 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) NJIT at (2) Lipscomb.  Predicted winner:  Lipscomb

3/2 – Semifinals

TBD (ESPN3) (5) South Carolina Upstate at (1) Florida Gulf Coast.  Predicted winner:  Florida Gulf Coast

TBD (ESPN3) (3) North Florida at (2) Lipscomb.  Predicted winner:  Lipscomb

3/5 – Finals

3 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Lipscomb at (1) Florida Gulf Coast.  Predicted winner:  Florida Gulf Coast

Big 12 (March 8-11; Kansas City)

3/8 – First Round

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9)

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) vs. (10)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)

2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) vs. (6)

3/10 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/11 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Kansas

Big East (March 8-11; New York)

3/8 – First Round

7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (8) vs. (9)

9:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (7) vs. (10)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (4) vs. (5)

7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (3) vs. (6)

3/10 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

9:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

3/11 – Finals

5:30 p.m. (Fox)

Predicted winner:  Butler

Big Sky (March 7, 9-11; Reno)

3/7 – First Round

5:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (8) vs. (9)

8:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (7) vs. (10)

11:05 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (6) vs. (11)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

3:05 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

5:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (4) vs. (5)

8:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:05 p.m. (Watch Big Sky) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/10 – Semifinals

8:35 p.m. (Watch Big Sky)

11:05 p.m. (Watch Big Sky)

3/11 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Eastern Washington

Big South (February 28, March 2-3, 5; first round at campus sites, quarterfinals and semis at home of #1 seed, finals at home of highest-remaining seed)

2/28 – First Round

7 p.m. (Big South Network) (9) Longwood at (8) Charleston Southern.  Predicted winner:  Charleston Southern

7 p.m. (Big South Network) (10) Presbyterian at Campbell.  Predicted winner:  Campbell

3/2 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) UNC-Asheville vs. (7) Campbell.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Asheville

3 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Liberty vs. (6) Radford.  Predicted winner:  Liberty

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Winthrop vs. (8) Charleston Southern.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

9 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Gardner-Webb vs. (5) High Point.  Predicted winner:  Gardner-Webb

3/3 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) UNC-Asheville vs. (3) Liberty.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Asheville

9 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Winthrop vs. (4) Gardner-Webb.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

3/5 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (2) UNC-Asheville at (1) Winthrop.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

Big Ten (March 8-12; Washington, DC)

3/8 – First Round

4:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (12) vs. (13)

7 p.m. (BTN) (11) vs. (14) Rutgers

3/9 – Second Round

12 p.m. (BTN) (8) vs. (9)

2:30 p.m. (BTN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

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

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (BTN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/11 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBS)

3:30 p.m. (CBS)

3/12 – Finals

3 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Indiana

Big West (March 9-11; Anaheim)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (1) vs. (8)

5:30 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (4) vs. (5)

9 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (3) vs. (6)

11:30 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (2) vs. (7)

3/10 – Semifinals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN3/ESPNU – tape delayed) highest remaining seed vs. lowest remaining seed

11:59 p.m. (ESPNU) other two quarterfinal winners

3/11 – Finals

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  UC Irvine

CAA (March 3-6; North Charleston, SC)

3/3 – First Round

6 p.m. (CAA.TV) (8) Hofstra vs. (9) Delaware.  Predicted winner:  Hofstra

8:30 p.m. (CAA.TV) (7) James Madison vs. (10) Drexel.  Predicted winner:  James Madison

3/4 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (1) UNC-Wilmington vs. (8) Hofstra.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Wilmington

2:30 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (4) William & Mary vs. (5) Elon.  Predicted winner:  Elon

6 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (2) Charleston vs. (7) James Madison.  Predicted winner:  Charleston

8:30 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (3) Towson vs. (6) Northeastern.  Predicted winner:  Towson

3/5 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (1) UNC-Wilmington vs. (5) Elon.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Wilmington

4:30 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet) (2) Charleston vs. (3) Towson. Predicted winner:  Charleston

3/6 – Finals

7 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) UNC-Wilmington vs. (2) Charleston.  Predicted winner:  UNC-Wilmington

Conference USA (March 8-11; Birmingham, AL)

3/8 – First Round

12:30 p.m. (Campus Insiders) (7) vs. (10)

3 p.m. (Campus Insiders) (6) vs. (11)

7 p.m. (Campus Insiders) (8) vs. (9)

9:30 p.m. (Campus Insiders) (5) vs. (12)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ASN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

3 p.m. (ASN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

8 p.m. (ASN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

9:30 p.m. (ASN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

3/10 – Semifinals

12:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/11 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

Predicted winner:  Middle Tennessee State

Horizon (March 3-7; Detroit)

3/3 – First Round

5:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Detroit vs. (10) Milwaukee.  Predicted winner:Detroit

8 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Cleveland State vs. (9) Youngstown State.  Predicted winner:  Youngstown State

Second Round

3/4

5:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Oakland vs. (9) Youngstown State.  Predicted winner:  Oakland

8 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Valparaiso vs. (7) Detroit.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

3/5

5 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Green Bay vs. (6) Illinois-Chicago.  Predicted winner:  Green Bay

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Northern Kentucky vs. (5) Wright State.  Predicted winner:  Wright State

3/6 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Oakland vs. (5) Wright State.  Predicted winner:  Oakland

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Valparaiso vs. (3) Green Bay.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

3/7 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Oakland vs. (2) Valparaiso.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

Ivy League (March 11-12; Philadelphia)

3/11 – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) vs. (4)

4 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (3)

3/12 – Finals

12 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Princeton

MAAC (March 2-6; Albany, NY)

3/2 – First Round

5 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Quinnipiac vs. (9) Niagara.  Predicted winner:  Quinnipiac

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Canisius vs. (10) Marist.  Predicted winner:  Canisius

9 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) Rider vs. (11) Manhattan.  Predicted winner:  Rider

Quarterfinals

3/3

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Monmouth vs. (8) Quinnipiac.  Predicted winner:  Monmouth

9:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) St. Peter's vs. (7) Canisius.  Predicted winner:  St. Peter's

3/4

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Iona vs. (6) Rider.  Predicted winner:  Iona

9:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Siena vs. (5) Fairfield.  Predicted winner:  Fairfield

3/5 – Semifinals

4:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Monmouth vs. (5) Fairfield.  Predicted winner:  Monmouth

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) St. Peter's vs. (3) Iona.  Predicted winner:  St. Peter's

3/6 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Monmouth vs. (2) St. Peter's.  Predicted winner:  Monmouth

MAC (March 6, 9-11; first round at campus of higher seed and remaining rounds in Cleveland)

3/6 – First Round

TBD (12) at (5)

TBD (9) at (8)

TBD (10) at (7)

TBD (11) at (6)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Spectrum Sports/BCSN/ESPN3) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2:30 p.m. (Spectrum Sports/BCSN/ESPN3) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

6:30 p.m. (Spectrum Sports/BCSN/ESPN3 ) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (Spectrum Sports/BCSN/ESPN3) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/10 – Semifinals

5:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

8 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/11 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 6-11; Norfolk, VA)

First Round

3/6

5 p.m. (5) vs. (12)

7 p.m. (6) vs. (11)

3/7

4 p.m. (8) vs. (9)

6 p.m. (7) vs. (10)

Quarterfinals

3/8

6 p.m. (1) vs. (8)/(9)

8 p.m. (2) vs. (7)/(10)

3/9

6 p.m. (3) vs. (6)/(11)

8 p.m. (4) vs. (5)/(12)

3/10 – Semifinals

6:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

3/11 – Final

1:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central

Missouri Valley (March 2-5; St. Louis)

3/2 – First Round

7:05 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) Evansville vs. (9) Indiana State.  Predicted winner:  Evansville

9:35 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Bradley vs. (10) Drake.  Predicted winner:  Bradley

3/3 – Quarterfinals

1:05 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Illinois State vs. (8) Evansville.  Predicted winner:  Illinois State

3:35 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Southern Illinois vs. (5) Loyola (IL).  Predicted winner:  Loyola (IL)

7:05 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Wichita State vs. (7) Bradley.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State

9:35 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Northern Iowa vs. (6) Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  Missouri State

3/4 – Semifinals

3:35 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Illinois State vs. (5) Loyola (IL).  Predicted winner:  Illinois State

6:05 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Wichita State vs. (6) Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State

3/5 – Finals

2:05 p.m. (CBS) (1) Illinois State vs. (2) Wichita State.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State

Mountain West (March 8-11; Las Vegas)

3/8 – First Round

2 p.m. (Mountain West Network) (8) vs. (9)

4:30 p.m. (Mountain West Network) (7) vs. (10)

7 p.m. (Mountain West Network) (6) vs. (11)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) San Diego State vs. (8)/(9)

5:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) vs. (5)

9 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/10 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (CBSSN)

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/11 – Finals

6 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Colorado State

Northeast Conference (March 1, 4, 7; campus of higher seed)

3/1 – Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (8) Sacred Heart at (1) Mount St. Mary's.  Predicted winner:  Mount St. Mary's

7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (7) Robert Morris at (2) LIU-Brooklyn.  Predicted winner:  LIU-Brooklyn

7 p.m. (MSG+, Fox College Sports, NEC Front Row) (6) Fairleigh Dickinson at (3) Wagner.  Predicted winner:  Wagner

9 p.m. (MSG+, Fox College Sports, NEC Front Row) (5) Bryant at (4) St. Francis (PA).  Predicted winner:  St. Francis (PA)

3/4 – Semifinals

12 p.m. or 2 p.m. (MSG, Fox College Sports, NEC Front Row) (4) St. Francis (PA) at (1) Mount St. Mary's.  Predicted winner:  Mount St. Mary's

12 p.m. or 2 p.m. (MSG, Fox College Sports, NEC Front Row) (3) Wagner at (2) LIU-Brooklyn.  Predicted winner:  LIU-Brooklyn

3/7 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) LIU-Brooklyn at (2) Mount St. Mary's.  Predicted winner:  LIU-Brooklyn

Ohio Valley (March 1-4; Nashville)

3/1 – First Round

7:30 p.m. (OVCDN) (5) Southeast Missouri State vs. (8) Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee State

9:30 p.m. (OVCDN) (6) Tennessee Tech vs. (7) Murray State.  Predicted winner:  Murray State

3/2 – Second Round

7:30 p.m. (OVCDN) (4) Jacksonville State vs. (8) Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee State

9:30 p.m. (OVCDN) (3) Morehead State vs. (7) Murray State.  Predicted winner:  Morehead State

3/3 – Semifinals

7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Belmont vs. (8) Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Belmont

10 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Tennessee-Martin vs. (3) Morehead State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee-Martin

3/4 – Finals

8 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Belmont vs. (2) Tennessee-Martin.  Predicted winner:  Belmont

Pac-12 (March 8-11; Las Vegas)

3/8 – First Round

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (8) vs. (9)

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

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (7) vs. (10)

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

3/9 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/10 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

11:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3/11 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Oregon

Patriot League (February 28, March 2, 5, 8; campus of higher seed)

2/28 – First Round

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (9) American at (8) Army.  Predicted winner:  Army

7:30 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (10) Lafayette at (7) Loyola (MD).  Predicted winner:  Loyola (MD)

3/2 – Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (8) Army at (1) Bucknell.  Predicted winner:  Bucknell

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (5) Holy Cross at (4) Navy.  Predicted winner:  Holy Cross

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (7) Loyola (MD) at (2) Boston University.  Predicted winner:  Boston University

7 p.m. (Patriot League Network) (6) Colgate at (3) Lehigh.  Predicted winner:  Lehigh

3/5 – Semifinals

12 or 2 p.m. (CBSSN) (5) Holy Cross at (1) Bucknell.  Predicted winner:  Bucknell

12 or 2 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Lehigh at (2) Boston University.  Predicted winner:  Lehigh

3/8 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Lehigh at (1) Bucknell.  Predicted winner:  Bucknell

SEC (March 8-12; Nashville)

3/8 – First Round

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (12) vs. (13)

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (11) vs. (14)

3/9 – Second Round

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (8) vs. (9)

3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (7) vs. (10)

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/11 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3/12 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Kentucky

Southern Conference (March 3-6; Asheville, NC)

3/3 – First Round

5 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) vs. (9).  Predicted winner: 

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) vs. (10).  Predicted winner: 

3/4 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) vs. (8)/(9).  Predicted winner: 

2:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) vs. (5).  Predicted winner: 

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) vs. (7)/(10).  Predicted winner: 

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) vs. (6).  Predicted winner: 

3/5 – Semifinals

5 p.m. (ESPN3).  Predicted winner: 

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3).  Predicted winner: 

3/6 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  East Tennessee State

Southland (March 8-11; Katy, TX)

3/8 – First Round

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) vs. (8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) vs. (7)

3/9 – Second Round

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) vs. (5)/(8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) vs. (6)/(7)

3/10 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) vs. (4)/(5)/(8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)

3/11 – Finals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  New Orleans

Summit (March 4-7; Sioux Falls, SD)

Quarterfinals

3/4

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (1) South Dakota vs. (8) Western Illinois.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (2) North Dakota State vs. (7) IUPUI.  Predicted winner:  North Dakota State

3/5

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (4) South Dakota State vs. (5) Denver.  Predicted winner:  Denver

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (3) Nebraksa-Omaha vs. (6) IPFW.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

3/6 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (1) South Dakota vs. (5) Denver.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (2) North Dakota State vs. (6) IPFW.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

3/7 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Dakota vs. (6) IPFW.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

Sun Belt (March 8, 10-12; New Orleans)

3/8 – First Round

12:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) vs. (9)

3 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) vs. (12)

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) vs. (10)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) vs. (11)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

3 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/11 – Semifinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

3 p.m. (ESPN3)

3/12 – Finals

2 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  UT-Arlington

SWAC (March 7, 10-11; quarterfinals at campus of higher seed, remaining games in Houston)

3/7 – Quarterfinals

TBD (8) at (1)

TBD (5) at (4)

TBD (6) at (3)

TBD (7) at (2)

3/10 – Semifinals

TBD

TBD

3/11 – Finals

TBD (TBD)

Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

WAC (March 9-11; Las Vegas)

3/9 – Quarterfinals

5 p.m. (4) vs. (5)

7:30 p.m. (2) New Mexico State vs. (7) Chicago State

10 p.m. (3) UMKC vs. (6) UT Rio Grande Valley

3/10 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (1) Cal State Bakersfield vs. (4)/(5)

11:30 p.m.

3/11 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Cal State Bakersfield

West Coast (March 3-4, 6-7; Las Vegas)

3/3 – First Round

9 p.m. (BYUtv, TheW.tv) (8) Pepperdine vs. (9) Pacific.  Predicted winner:  Pacific

11 p.m. (BYUtv, TheW.tv) (7) San Diego vs. (10) Portland.  Predicted winner:  San Diego

3/4 – Quarterfinals

4 p.m. (Spectrum SportsNet, CSN BA, ROOT RM, BYUtv, TheW.tv) (3) BYU vs. (6) Loyola Marymount.  Predicted winner:  BYU

6 p.m. (Spectrum SportsNet, CSN BA, ROOT RM, BYUtv, TheW.tv) (4) Santa Clara vs. (5) San Francisco.  Predicted winner:  San Francisco

10 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Gonzaga vs. (9) Pacific.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

11:59 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) St. Mary's vs. (7) San Diego.  Predicted winner:  St. Mary's

3/6 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (5) San Francisco.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) St. Mary's vs. (3) BYU.  Predicted winner:  St. Mary's

3/7 - Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (2) St. Mary's.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga