Thursday, March 12, 2020

Updated Championship Week Predictions: "Lonesome Town"


As I'm sure you have heard, NCAA President Mark Emmert announced yesterday that both the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments will be played without fans and only with "essential staff and limited family attendance," in light of the spreading Coronavirus.  This March is going to be so eerie, but I'm sure bars and CBS/TNT/TBS will love it.  A song about loneliness seems appropriate, and there are many to choose from, but Ricky Nelson's haunting ballad "Lonesome Town" seems to sum up the somber mood as good as any of them.

The NCAA also noted that it might switch some of the sites for games to smaller venues.  If they do that, I sincerely hope they choose the smallest D-1 arena in the various cities, not only so that the arenas don't look so damn empty, but also because it will give smaller schools' gyms a chance to shine in the national spotlight that they wouldn't normally have.  Here's what I'm proposing.  Below is a list of each of the Tournament sites, with the city, the arena I'm proposing (which is the smallest D-1 arena in the city), and the D-1 school that plays their home games at said arena, and the capacity.  Note that a school cannot play at its home arena, so I'm keeping the Spokane option as it is, since Gonzaga is likely going to be the 1-seed in the West region, and it's the only D-1 school in Spokane.  Also, for New York City, I limited it to the five boroughs.

First Four:  
-Dayton, OH: UD Arena (Dayton; 13,435) (this is where it's going to be anyway, but Dayton is technically the only D-1 school in the city of Dayton)

First and Second Rounds:
-Albany, NY:  SEFCU Arena (Albany; 4,538)
-Spokane, WA:  Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena (no school; 12,210)
-Tampa, FL:  Yuengling Center (South Florida; 10,411)
-St. Louis, MO:  Chaifetz Arena (St. Louis; 10,600
-Greensboro, NC:  Corbett Sports Center (North Carolina A&T; 5,000)
-Omaha, NE:  Baxter Arena (Nebraska-Omaha; 7,898)
-Sacramento, CA:  The Hornets Nest (Sacramento State; 1,012)
-Cleveland, OH:  The Wolstein Center (Cleveland State; 13,610)

Sweet 16 and Elite 8:
-Indianapolis, IN:  Indiana Farmers Coliseum (IUPUI; 6,500)
-Los Angeles, CA:  Gersten Pavilion (Loyola Marymount; 3,900)
-Houston, TX:  Sharp Gymnasium (Houston Baptist; 1,000)
-New York, NY:  Daniel Lynch Gymnasium (St. Francis Brooklyn; 1,200)

Final Four:
-Atlanta, GA:  GSU Sports Arena (Georgia State; 3,854)

Here is what happened in yesterday's Championship Week action and what we have to look forward to today: 
  • In the Patriot League title game, 3-seed Boston upset top seed Colgate to win its first Patriot League Tournament title since switching from the America East in 2013.  The Terriers will be playing in their 8th NCAA Tournament and first since 2011.
  • There are no championship games today or tomorrow -- which means there will be 19 bids up for grabs on Saturday and Sunday -- but the remaining three conference tournaments are starting today.
  • In the first half of the MAAC quarterfinals, 1-seed Siena beat 9-seed Manhattan, 61-43, and 2-seed St. Peter's needed a game-winning shot with 0.9 seconds left to finish 7-seed Iona, 56-54, the latter of which means the Gaels' streak of MAAC Tournament titles will end at four and, for the first time since 2012, a MAAC Tournament title game will not include the Gaels. The second half of the quarterfinals will be tonight.
  • In the first half of the MEAC quarterfinals, top seed North Carolina Central downed 8-seed Delaware State, 92-75, and 2-seed North Carolina A&T beat 10-seed Howard, 86-77.  The second half of the quarterfinals will be tonight.
  • In the Sun Belt quarterfinals, 3-seed Texas State beat 6-seed Appalachian State, 85-68, while 5-seed Georgia Southern crushed 4-seed Georgia State, 81-62, to advance to Saturday's semifinals.
  • In the second round of the ACC, 5-seed NC State topped 13-seed Pitt, 73-58, 6-seed Syracuse dismantled 14-seed North Carolina, 81-53, 7-seed Notre Dame crushed 10-seed Boston College, 80-58, and 8-seed Clemson beat 9-seed Miami (FL), 69-64, to advance to today's quarterfinals.  North Carolina's loss ensures that the Tar Heels will have their first losing season since 2002 and only their second since 1961 (Dean Smith's first season as head coach).
  • In the first round of the A-10, 11-seed George Washington fell to 14-seed Fordham, 72-52, as George Washington remains the only team Fordham has beaten in A-10 play -- or in all of 2020, for that matter. Also, 12-seed George Mason beat 13-seed St. Joseph's, 77-70.  The second round is today.
  • In the first round of the Big 12, 8-seed Oklahoma State avoided a potential bubble-bursting loss to 9-seed Iowa State, winning 72-71 on a game-winning layup with 3.8 seconds left.  7-seed TCU fell to 10-seed Kansas State, 53-49.  The quarterfinals are today.
  • In the first round of the Big East, 7-seed (and bubble team) Xavier was upset by 10-seed DePaul, 71-67 -- just as I predicted -- and 9-seed St. John's beat 8-seed Georgetown, 75-62.  The quarterfinals are today.
  • In the first round of the Big Sky, 11-seed Idaho State upset 6-seed Northern Arizona, 64-62, 7-seed Southern Utah beat 10-seed Idaho, 75-69, and 9-seed Sacramento State topped 8-seed Weber State, 62-54, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the first round of the Big Ten, 11-seed Indiana did what it needed to do t pick up its 20th win of the season, annihilating 14-seed Nebraska, 89-64, and 12-seed Minnesota dominated 13-seed Northwestern, 74-57.  The second round is today.
  • In the first round of the Conference USA, 5-seed FIU beat 12-seed Rice, 85-76, 6-seed Marshall topped 11-seed UTEP, 86-78, 7-seed UAB beat 10-seed UTSA, 74-69, and 9-seed FAU downed 8-seed Old Dominion, 66-56, to advance to today's quarterfinals.
  • In the first round of the Pac-12, 5-seed Arizona topped 12-seed Washington, 77-70, 6-seed Colorado did itself no favors with respect to NCAA Tournament seeding by losing by double digits to 11-seed Washington State, 82-68.  The loss likely drops the Buffs from a 7-seed to somewhere between an 8- and 10-seed, depending how other teams do in their conference tournaments. 7-seed Stanford suffered a crushing 63-51 defeat to 10-seed Cal, which may put the Cardinal on the wrong side of the bubble, and 8-seed Oregon State beat 9-seed Utah, 71-69.  The quarterfinals are today.
  • In the first round of the SEC, 11-seed Arkansas avoided having its bubble burst, for the time being anyway, by beating 14-seed Vanderbilt, 86-73, and 13-seed Georgia destroyed 12-seed Ole Miss, 81-63.  The second round is today.
  • In the first round of the Southland, 5-seed Northwestern State beat 8-seed Texas A&M-CC, 79-62, and 6-seed Lamar jumped all over 7-seed McNeese, winning 80-59.  The second round, which serves as the de facto quarterfinals, is today.
  • Bubble teams that won yesterday:  Arkansas, Indiana, NC State, Oklahoma State
  • Bubble teams that lost yesterday:  Stanford, Xavier
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.
  • Games today:  58
  • Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern):  None
  • Conferences with games today:  16
    • AAC
    • ACC
    • Atlantic 10
    • Big 12
    • Big East
    • Big Sky
    • Big Ten
    • Big West
    • Conference USA
    • MAAC
    • MAC
    • MEAC
    • Pac-12
    • SEC
    • Southland
    • WAC
  • Conference tournaments starting today:  3 
    • AAC
    • Big West
    • WAC
  • Semifinals today:  None
  • Quarterfinals today:  11
    • ACC
    • Big 12
    • Big East
    • Big Sky
    • Big West
    • Conference USA
    • MAAC
    • MAC
    • MEAC
    • Pac-12
    • WAC
  • Second rounds today:  4
    • Atlantic 10
    • Big Ten
    • SEC
    • Southland
  • First rounds today:  1
    • AAC
Already clinched automatic berths (I will add in parentheses the NCAA tournament appearances for each school, including the bid just clinched, and for conferences whose tournaments have not yet ended, I'll list the date of the championship game)
-AAC (March 15)
-ACC (March 14)
-America East (March 14)
-Atlantic 10 (March 15)
-Atlantic Sun:  Liberty (5)
-Big 12 (March 14)
-Big East (March 14)
-Big Sky (March 14)
-Big South:  Winthrop (12)
-Big Ten (March 15)
-Big West (March 14)
-Colonial:  Hofstra (5)
-Conference USA (March 14)
-Horizon:  Northern Kentucky (3)
-Ivy League:  Yale (6)
-MAAC (March 14)
-MAC (March 14)
-MEAC (March 14)
-Missouri Valley:  Bradley (10)
-Mountain West:  Utah State (22)
-Northeast Conference:  Robert Morris (9)
-Ohio Valley:  Belmont (9)
-Pac-12 (March 14)
-Patriot League:  Boston (8)
-SEC (March 15)
-Southern:  East Tennessee State (12)
-Southland (March 14)
-Summit: North Dakota State (5)
-Sun Belt (March 15)
-SWAC (March 14)
-WAC (March 14)
-West Coast:  Gonzaga (23)

Because I am unhealthily obsessed with college basketball in March -- to the detriment of my marriage, children, friendships, work, sleep schedule, sanity, wallet, water aerobics league, and loyalty to Set -- 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)

AAC (March 12-15; Fort Worth)
3/12 – First Round
1 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) UCF vs. (9) South Florida.  Predicted winner:  UCF
3 p.m. (ESPNU) (5) UConn vs. (12) Tulane.  Predicted winner:  UConn
8 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) SMU vs. (10) Temple.  Predicted winner:  SMU
10 p.m. (ESPNU) (6) Memphis vs. (11) East Carolina.  Predicted winner:  
3/13 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Cincinnati vs. (8) UCF.  Predicted winner:  Cincinnati
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Wichita State vs. (5) UConn.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State
8 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Houston vs. (7) SMU.  Predicted winner:  Houston
10 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) Tulsa vs. (6) Memphis.  Predicted winner:  Tulsa
3/14 – Semifinals
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Cincinnati vs. (4) Wichita State.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State
5:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Houston vs. (3) Tulsa.  Predicted winner:  Houston
3/15 – Finals
3:15 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Houston vs. (4) Wichita State.  Predicted winner:  Houston

ACC (March 10-14; Greensboro)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Florida State vs. (8) Clemson.  Predicted winner:  Florida State
2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) Duke vs. (5) NC State.  Predicted winner:  Duke
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Virginia vs. (7) Notre Dame.  Predicted winner:  Virginia
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) Louisville vs. (6) Syracuse.  Predicted winner:  Louisville
3/13 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Florida State vs. (4) Duke.  Predicted winner:  Florida State
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Virginia vs. (3) Louisville.  Predicted winner:  Louisville
3/14 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Florida State vs. (3) Louisville.  Predicted winner:  Florida State

America East (March 7, 10, 14; campus of higher seeds)
3/14 – Finals
11 a.m. (ESPN2) (3) Hartford at (1) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

Atlantic 10 (March 11-15; Brooklyn)
3/12 – Second Round
12 p.m. (NBCSN) (8) UMass vs. (9) VCU.  Predicted winner:  VCU
2:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (5) St. Bonaventure vs. (12) George Mason.  Predicted winner:  St. Bonaventure
6 p.m. (NBCSN) (7) Davidson vs. (10) LaSalle.  Predicted winner:  Davidson
8:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (6) Duquesne vs. (14) Fordham.  Predicted winner:  Duquesne
3/13 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (NBCSN) (1) Dayton vs. (9) VCU.  Predicted winner:  Dayton
2:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (4) St. Louis vs. (5) St. Bonaventure.  Predicted winner:  St. Louis
6 p.m. (NBCSN) (2) Richmond vs. (7) Davidson.  Predicted winner:  Richmond
8:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (3) Rhode Island vs. (6) Duquesne.  Predicted winner:  Rhode Island
3/14 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Dayton vs. (4) St. Louis.  Predicted winner:  Dayton
3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Richmond vs. (3) Rhode Island.  Predicted winner:  Rhode Island
3/15 – Finals
1 p.m. (CBS) (1) Dayton vs. (3) Rhode Island.  Predicted winner:  Dayton

Big 12 (March 11-14; Kansas City)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
12:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) Texas vs. (5) Texas Tech.  Predicted winner:  Texas Tech
2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Kansas vs. (8) Oklahoma State.  Predicted winner:  Kansas
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Baylor vs. (10) Kansas State.  Predicted winner:  Baylor
9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) Oklahoma vs. (6) West Virginia.  Predicted winner:  West Virginia
3/13 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Kansas vs. (5) Texas Tech.  Predicted winner:  Kansas
9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Baylor vs. (6) West Virginia.  Predicted winner:  Baylor
3/14 – Finals
6 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Kansas vs. (2) Baylor.  Predicted winner:  Kansas

Big East (March 11-14; New York)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (FS1) (1) Creighton vs. (9) St. John's.  Predicted winner:  Creighton
2:30 p.m. (FS1) (4) Providence vs. (5) Butler .  Predicted winner:  Butler
7 p.m. (FS1) (2) Villanova vs. (10) De Paul.  Predicted winner:  Villanova
9:30 p.m. (FS1) (3) Seton Hall vs. (6) Marquette.  Predicted winner:  Seton Hall
3/13 – Semifinals
6:30 p.m. (FS1) (1) Creighton vs. (5) Butler.  Predicted winner:  Creighton
9:30 p.m. (FS1) (2) Villanova vs. (3) Seton Hall.  Predicted winner:  Seton Hall
3/14 – Finals
6:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) Creighton vs. (3) Seton Hall.  Predicted winner:  Creighton

Big Sky (March 11-14; Boise)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
2 p.m. (Pluto TV/Eleven Sports) (1) Eastern Washington vs. (9) Sacramento State.  Predicted winner:  Eastern Washington
4:30 p.m. (Pluto TV/Eleven Sports) (4) Portland State vs. (5) Montana State.  Predicted winner:  Portland State
7:30 p.m. (Pluto TV/Eleven Sports) (2) Northern Colorado vs. (7) Southern Utah.  Predicted winner:  Northern Colorado
10 p.m. (Pluto TV/Eleven Sports) (3) Montana vs. (11) Idaho State.  Predicted winner:  Montana
3/13 – Semifinals
7:30 p.m. (Eleven Sports) (1) Eastern Washington vs. (4) Portland State.  Predicted winner:  Eastern Washington
10 p.m. (Eleven Sports) (2) Northern Colorado vs. (3) Montana.  Predicted winner:  Montana
3/14 – Finals
8 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Eastern Washington vs. (3) Montana.  Predicted winner:  Montana

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

Big West (March 12-14; Anaheim)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
3 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) UC Irvine vs. (8) Long Beach State.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine
5:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Hawaii vs. (5) UC Davis.  Predicted winner:  Hawaii
9 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) UC Santa Barbara vs. (6) UC Riverside.  Predicted winner:  UC Santa Barbara
11:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Cal State Northridge vs. (7) Cal State Fullerton.  Predicted winner:  Cal State Northridge
3/13 – Semifinals
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3) (1) UC Irvine vs. (4) Hawaii.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine
11:59 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Cal State Northridge vs. (3) UC Santa Barbara.  Predicted winner:  UC Santa Barbara
3/14 – Finals
11:59 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) UC Irvine vs. (3) UC Santa Barbara.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine

Conference USA (March 11-14; Frisco, TX)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
7 p.m. (Stadium) (1) North Texas vs. (9) Florida Atlantic.  Predicted winner:  North Texas
7:30 p.m. (Facebook) (4) Charlotte vs. (5) FIU.  Predicted winner:  FIU
9:30 p.m. (Stadium) (3) Louisiana Tech vs. (6) Marshall.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech
10 p.m. (Facebook) (2) Western Kentucky vs. (7) UAB.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky
3/13 – Semifinals
2 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) North Texas vs. (5) FIU.  Predicted winner:  North Texas
4:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Western Kentucky vs. (3) Louisiana Tech.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech
3/14 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) North Texas vs. (3) Louisiana Tech.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech

MAAC (March 10-14; Atlantic City, NJ)
Quarterfinals
3/12
7 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Rider vs. (6) Niagara.  Predicted winner:  Rider
9:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Monmouth vs. (5) Quinnipiac.  Predicted winner:  Monmouth
3/13 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPNews) (1) Siena vs. (4) Monmouth.  Predicted winner:  Siena
8:30 p.m. (ESPNews) (2) St. Peter's vs. (3) Rider.  Predicted winner:  St. Peter's
3/14 – Finals
9 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Siena vs. (2) St. Peter's.  Predicted winner:  St. Peter's

MAC (March 9, 12-14; first round at campus of higher seed and remaining rounds in Cleveland)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Akron vs. (8) Ohio.  Predicted winner:  Akron
2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Northern Illinois vs. (12) Miami (OH).  Predicted winner:  Northern Illinois
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Bowling Green vs. (7) Toledo.  Predicted winner:  Bowling Green
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Ball State vs. (6) Kent State.  Predicted winner:  Kent State
3/13 – Semifinals
6:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Akron vs. (4) Northern Illinois.  Predicted winner:  Akron
9 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Bowling Green vs. (6) Kent State.  Predicted winner:  Bowling Green
3/14 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Akron vs. (2) Bowling Green.  Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 10-14; Norfolk, VA)
Quarterfinals
3/12
6 p.m. (FloHoops) (4) Bethune-Cookman vs. (5) Morgan State.  Predicted winner:  Bethune-Cookman
8 p.m. (FloHoops) (3) Norfolk State vs. (6) Coppin State.  Predicted winner:  Norfolk State
3/13 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (FloHoops) (1) North Carolina Central vs. (4) Bethune-Cookman.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central
8 p.m. (FloHoops) (2) North Carolina A&T vs. (3) Norfolk State.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina A&T
3/14 – Final
1:00 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) North Carolina Central vs. (2) North Carolina A&T.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina A&T

Pac-12 (March 11-14; Las Vegas)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) Oregon vs. (8) Oregon State.  Predicted winner:  Oregon
5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (4) USC vs. (5) Arizona.  Predicted winner:  Arizona
9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (2) UCLA vs. (10) California.  Predicted winner:  UCLA
11:30 p.m. (FS1) (3) Arizona State vs. (11) Washington State.  Predicted winner:  Arizona State
3/13 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) Oregon vs. (5) Arizona.  Predicted winner:  Oregon
11:30 p.m. (FS1) (2) UCLA vs. (3) Arizona State.  Predicted winner:  UCLA
3/14 – Finals
10:30 p.m. (FS1) (1) Oregon vs. (2) UCLA.  Predicted winner:  Oregon

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

Southland (March 11-14; Katy, TX)
3/12 – Second Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Sam Houston State vs. (5) Northwestern State.  Predicted winner:  Sam Houston State
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Nicholls vs. (6) Lamar.  Predicted winner:  Nicholls
3/13 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (4) Sam Houston State.  Predicted winner:  Stephen F. Austin
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Abilene Christian vs. (3) Nicholls.  Predicted winner:  Nicholls
3/14 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (3) Nicholls.  Predicted winner:  Stephen F. Austin

Sun Belt (March 7, 9, 11, 14-15; first round, second round, and quarterfinals at campus of higher seed, remaining games in New Orleans)
3/14 – Semifinals
12:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Little Rock vs. (5) Georgia Southern.  Predicted winner:  Little Rock
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) South Alabama vs. (3) Texas State.  Predicted winner:  Texas State
3/15 – Finals
2 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Little Rock vs. (3) Texas State.  Predicted winner:  
Predicted winner:  Little Rock

SWAC (March 10, 13-14; quarterfinals at campus of higher seed, remaining games in Birmingham, AL)
3/13 – Semifinals
3:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Prairie View A&M vs. (4) Jackson State.  Predicted winner:  Prairie View A&M
9:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Southern vs. (3) Texas Southern.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern
3/14 – Finals
6 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Prairie View A&M vs. (3) Texas Southern.  Predicted winner:  Prairie View A&M

WAC (March 12-14; Las Vegas)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) New Mexico State vs. (8) Chicago State.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico State
5:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Grand Canyon vs. (5) Kansas City.  Predicted winner:  Kansas City
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) UTRGV vs. (7) Utah Valley.  Predicted winner:  UTRGV
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Seattle vs. (6) Utah Valley.  Predicted winner:  Seattle
3/13 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) New Mexico State vs. (5) Kansas City.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico State
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) UTRGV vs. (3) Seattle.  Predicted winner:  Seattle
3/14 – Finals
10 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) New Mexico State vs. (3) Seattle.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico State

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