Championship Week is Here!

It is with cautious optimism that I must let you know that Championship Week is here, my friends!

Of course, last year's Championship Week was cut short, thanks to the burgeoning pandemic, and the NCAA Tournament was canceled.  This year's NCAA Tournament will be held exclusively in the great State of Indiana, making this the first time in the tournament's 82-year history it will be held entirely within one state.  Of course, there's no better state to host it, as basketball is religion in Indiana.

Here are the venues for the NCAA Tournament:

-Assembly Hall (Bloomington):  First Four and First Round

-Mackey Arena (West Lafayette):  First Four and First Round

-Banker's Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis):  First Round, Second Round, and Sweet 16

-Hinkle Fieldhouse (Indianapolis):  First Round, Second Round, and Sweet 16

-Indiana Farmers Coliseum (Indianapolis):  First Round and Second Round

-Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis):  First Round, Second Round, Elite 8, and Final Four

The schedule is also going to be different this year.  Instead of having the First Four on a Tuesday and Wednesday, it will be all on Thursday March 18.  The First Round will be on Friday March 19 and Saturday March 20, the Second Round will be on Sunday March 21 and Monday March 22, the Sweet 16 will be on Saturday March 27 and Sunday March 28, the Elite 8 will be on Monday March 29 and Tuesday March 30, and the Final Four will be as regularly scheduled, with the semis on Saturday April 3 and the championship game on Monday April 5.

But before we get to the Big Dance, we have a whole lotta basketball to be played, though there are a few quirks this year.  Usually, I give you an amazing stat about the 300+ teams playing in nearly 300 conference tournament games, but some of that is up in the air.  Some conferences are doing reduced tournaments (for instance only taking the top four teams rather than a full field), and the Ivy League canceled all winter sports, so there will be one more at-large bid up for grabs this year.  And making things more unpredictable, there is the possibility that teams could opt out of their conference tournaments, which could end up wreaking havoc on the selection process.  For instance, if a team like #1 ranked Gonzaga opts out of the WCC Tournament (which, by the way, doesn't seem likely, but you never know), then it could open the door for a WCC team that wasn't likely to make the NCAA Tournament to earn an automatic bid, taking away one of the coveted bubble spots.

Even with the uncertainty, it's still going to be a fun and crazy two weeks until Selection Sunday.  And on the bright side, having to work from home means that I'll be able to watch a lot more basketball this year than usual.  I've said it before and I'll say it again:  this is my favorite time of the sporting year.  Championship Week and the NCAA Tournament are, in the words of Joe Esposito, the best around.  They 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.  And the buzzer beaters.  Good God, the buzzer beaters!

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.  The regular season means nothing.  Two schools punched their first-ever tickets to the dance in 2019 -- Gardner-Webb in the Big South and Abilene Christian in the Southland.  Army, The Citadel, St. Francis (Brooklyn), and William & Mary remain the only four original Division 1 schools that have never made the NCAA Tournament (though Army was invited in 1968 and chose to play in the NIT instead).  Army is the 4-seed in the Patriot League, The Citadel is the 8-seed in the SoCon, St. Francis is currently on the outside looking in for getting into the four-team NEC Tournament, and William & Mary is the 7-seed in the Colonial.

And, of course, as the last ten NCAA Tournaments have shown us -- with the likes of Butler, BYU, Cornell, Dayton, Florida Gulf Coast, Gonzaga, LaSalle, Loyola, Nevada, Northern Iowa, Ohio, Richmond, San Diego State, St. Mary's, Southern Illinois, Wichita State, VCU, and Xavier all making it to the Sweet Sixteen or beyond, and 16-seed UMBC upsetting 1-seed Virginia in 2018 -- 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, the America East, Big South, and Horizon League have already started their conference tournaments.  Ten other 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 in 2019, I was 15 of 32 in correctly predicting the eventual conference tournament champion.  In addition to the COVID-related issues mentioned above, since last year, there have been a couple additions and subtractions in some conferences, some conferences have had to slightly adjust due to ineligible teams (or teams still in the transition period to D-1), and some conference tournaments moved up in the schedule, while several moved back.

The first bids to be clinched will be this weekend:

-Ohio Valley:  March 6

-Atlantic Sun:  March 7

-Big South:  March 7

-Missouri Valley:  March 7

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

-Big South

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, and for conferences whose tournaments have not yet ended, I'll list the date of the championship game)

-AAC (March 14)

-ACC (March 13)

-America East (March 13)

-Atlantic 10 (March 14)

-Atlantic Sun (March 7)

-Big 12 (March 13)

-Big East (March 13)

-Big Sky (March 13)

-Big South (March 7)

-Big Ten (March 14)

-Big West (March 13)

-Colonial (March 9)

-Conference USA (March 13)

-Horizon (March 9)

-MAAC (March 13)

-MAC (March 13)

-MEAC (March 13)

-Missouri Valley (March 7)

-Mountain West (March 13)

-Northeast Conference (March 9)

-Ohio Valley (March 6)

-Pac-12 (March 13)

-Patriot League (March 14)

-SEC (March 14)

-Southern Conference (March 8)

-Southland (March 13)

-Summit (March 9)

-Sun Belt (March 8)

-SWAC (March 13)

-WAC (March 13)

-West Coast (March 9)

Because I am unhealthily obsessed with college basketball in March -- to the detriment of my marriage, children, friendships, work, sleep schedule, sanity, wallet, archery practice, and loyalty to Zeus -- 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 11-14; Fort Worth)

3/11 – First Round

Noon (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9)

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

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

3/12 – Quarterfinals

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

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

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

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

3/13 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN2)

5:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

3/14 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Houston

ACC (March 9-13; Greensboro)

3/9 – First Round

2 p.m. p.m. (ACCN) (12) vs. (13)

4:30 p.m. (ACCN) (10) vs. (15)

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

3/10 – Second Round

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

2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

6:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (7) vs. (10)/(15)

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

3/11 – Quarterfinals

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

2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

6:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/12 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/13 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Florida State

America East (February 27-28, March 6, 13; New Hampshire, Hartford for pod play and quarterfinals, campus of higher seed for semis and final)

3/6 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) UMass Lowell at (1) UMBC.  Predicted winner:  UMBC

4 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Hartford at (2) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

3/13 – Finals

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

Atlantic 10 (March 3-6, 14; Richmond)

3/3 – First Round

11 a.m. (ESPN+) (12) vs. (13)

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (11) vs. (14)

3/4 – Second Round

11 a.m. (NBCSN) (8) vs. (9)

1 p.m. (NBCSN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

3:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (7) vs. (10)

5:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/5 – Quarterfinals

11 a.m. (NBCSN) (1) Dayton vs. (8)/(9)

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

3:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

5:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/6 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (CBSSN)

9 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/14 – Finals

1 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  St. Bonaventure

Atlantic Sun (March 4-5, 7; Jacksonville)

3/4 – Quarterfinals

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Liberty vs. (8) Kennesaw State.  Predicted winner:  Liberty

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) North Florida vs. (5) North Alabama.  Predicted winner:  North Alabama

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Bellarmine vs. (7) Stetson.  Predicted winner:  Bellarmine

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Lipscomb vs. (6) Florida Gulf Coast.  Predicted winner:  Lipscomb

3/5 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Liberty vs. (5) North Alabama.  Predicted winner:  Liberty

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Bellarmine vs. (3) Lipscomb.  Predicted winner:  Lipscomb

3/7 – Finals

2 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Liberty vs. (3) Lipscomb.  Predicted winner:  Liberty

Big 12 (March 10-13; Kansas City)

3/10 – First Round

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

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) vs. (10) 

3/11 – Quarterfinals

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

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

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) vs. (6)

3/12 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/13 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Baylor

Big East (March 10-13; New York)

3/10 – First Round

3 p.m. (FS1) (8) vs. (9)

6 p.m. (FS1) (7) vs. (10) 

9 p.m. (FS1) (6) vs. (11)

3/11 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (FS1) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

3 p.m. (FS1) (4) vs. (5)

6 p.m. (FS1) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (FS1) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/12 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (FS1)

9 p.m. (FS1)

3/13 – Finals

6:30 p.m. (Fox)

Predicted winner:  Creighton

Big Sky (March 10-13; Boise)

3/10 – First Round

11 a.m. (Pluto TV) (8) vs. (9)

2 p.m. (Pluto TV) (7) vs. (10) 

4 p.m. (Pluto TV) (6) vs. (11) 

3/11 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (Pluto TV/Eleven Sports) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

3 p.m. (Pluto TV/Eleven Sports) (4) vs. (5)

7 p.m. (Pluto TV/Eleven Sports) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

10 p.m. (Pluto TV/Eleven Sports) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/12 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (Eleven Sports)

10 p.m. (Eleven Sports)

3/13 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Eastern Washington

Big South (February 27, March 1, 4, 7; first round and quarterfinals at campus sites, semis and finals at home of higher-remaining seeds)

3/1 – Quarterfinals

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (8) High Point at (1) Winthrop.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) Longwood at (4) UNC Asheville.  Predicted winner:  UNC Asheville

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Hampton at (2) Radford.  Predicted winner:  Radford

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) Gardner-Webb at (3) Campbell.  Predicted winner:  Campbell

3/4 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) UNC Asheville at (1) Winthrop.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Campbell at (2) Radford.  Predicted winner:  Radford

3/7 – Finals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Radford at (1) Winthrop.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

Big Ten (March 10-14; Indianapolis)

3/10 – First Round

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (12) vs. (13) 

9 p.m. (BTN) (11) vs. (14)

3/11 – Second Round

11:30 a.m. (BTN) (8) vs. (9)

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

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

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

3/12 – Quarterfinals

11:30 a.m. (BTN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

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

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

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

3/13 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBS)

3:30 p.m. (CBS)

3/14 – Finals

3:30 p.m. (CBS) 

Predicted winner:  Michigan

Big West (March 9, 11-13; Las Vegas)

3/9 - First Round

5:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (9)

8 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) vs. (10) Cal Poly

3/11 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

5:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)

3/12 – Semifinals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) 

11:59 p.m. (ESPN+) 

3/13 – Finals

11:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  UC Santa Barbara

CAA (March 6-9; Harrisonburg, VA)

3/6 – First Round

3 p.m. (FloHoops) (8) Elon vs. (9) Towson.  Predicted winner:  Elon

6 p.m. (FloHoops) (7) William & Mary vs. (10) UNC Wilmington.  Predicted winner:  William & Mary

3/7 – Quarterfinals

11 a.m. (FloHoops) (4) Hofstra vs. (5) Delaware.  Predicted winner:  Hofstra

2:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (1) James Madison vs. (8) Elon.  Predicted winner:  James Madison

6 p.m. (FloHoops) (2) Northeastern vs. (7) William & Mary.  Predicted winner:  Northeastern

9:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (3) Charleston vs. (6) Drexel.  Predicted winner:  Charleston

3/8 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) James Madison vs. (4) Hofstra.  Predicted winner:  James Madison

9:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Northeastern vs. (3) Charleston.  Predicted winner:  Northeastern

3/9 – Finals

7 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) James Madison vs. (2) Northeastern.  Predicted winner:  James Madison

Conference USA (March 10-13; Frisco, TX)

3/10 – First Round

6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Florida Atlantic vs. (9) UTEP.  Predicted winner:  UTEP

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) UAB vs. (12) Southern Mississippi.  Predicted winner:  UAB

9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) UTSA vs. (10) Charlotte.  Predicted winner:  UTSA

10 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Marshall vs. (11) Rice.  Predicted winner:  Marshall

3/11 – Quarterfinals

6:30 p.m. (Stadium) (1) Western Kentucky vs. (9) UTEP.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky

7 p.m. (Stadium) (4) Old Dominion vs. (5) UAB.  Predicted winner:  UAB

9:30 p.m. (Stadium) (2) Louisiana Tech vs. (7) UTSA.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech

10 p.m. (Stadium) (3) North Texas vs. (6) Marshall.  Predicted winner:  North Texas

3/12 – Semifinals

12 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Western Kentucky vs. (5) UAB.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky

3 p.m. (CBSSN).  (2) Louisiana Tech vs. (3) North Texas.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech

3/13 – Finals

9 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Western Kentucky vs. (2) Louisiana Tech Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky

Horizon (February 25, March 2, 8-9; first round and quarterfinals at campus sites of higher seed and remaining rounds in Indianapolis)

3/2 - Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Purdue Ft. Wayne at (1) Cleveland State.  Predicted winner:  Cleveland State

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) Detroit at (4) Northern Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Detroit

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Milwaukee at (2) Wright State.  Predicted winner:  Wright State

7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Youngstown State at (3) Oakland.  Predicted winner:  Oakland

3/8 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Cleveland State vs. (5) Detroit.  Predicted winner:  Cleveland State

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Wright State vs. (3) Oakland.  Predicted winner:  Wright State

3/9 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Cleveland State vs. (2) Wright State.  Predicted winner:  Wright State

MAAC (March 8-13; Atlantic City, NJ)

First Round

3/8

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (6)  vs. (11)   

3/9

5 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (9) 

7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7)  vs. (10)   

Quarterfinals

3/10

5 p.m. (ESPN+) (1)  vs. (8)/(9)  

7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2)  vs. (7)/(10)   

3/11

5 p.m. (ESPN+) (3)  vs. (6)/(11)

7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4)  vs. (5)   

3/12 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPNews) 

8:30 p.m. (ESPNews) 

3/13 – Finals

4 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Siena

MAC (March 11-13; Cleveland)

3/11 – Quarterfinals

11 a.m. (ESPN+) (1) Toledo vs. (8)/(9)

1:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

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

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

3/12 – Semifinals

5 p.m. (CBSSN)

7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/13 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Toledo

MEAC (March 7, 11-13; first round at home of better seed, remainder in Norfolk, VA)

3/7 - First Round

TBD (TBD) (S3) vs. (S4)

3/11 - Quarterfinals

6 p.m. (TBD) (S2) vs. (N3)

8 p.m. (TBD) (N2) vs. (S3)/(S4)

3/12 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (TBD) (N1) vs. (S2)/(N3)

8 p.m. (TBD) (S1) vs. (N2)/(S3)/(S4)

3/13 – Final

1:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  North Carolina A&T

Missouri Valley (March 4-7; St. Louis)

3/4 – First Round

6 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (8) Bradley vs. (9) Southern Illinois.  Predicted winner:  Bradley

9 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (7) Northern Iowa vs. (10) Illinois State.  Predicted winner:  Northern Iowa

3/5 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (1) Loyola (IL) vs. (8) Bradley.  Predicted winner:  Loyola (IL)

3 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (4) Indiana State vs. (5) Evansville.  Predicted winner:  Indiana State

6 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (2) Drake vs. (7) Northern Iowa.  Predicted winner:  Drake

9 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (3) Missouri State vs. (6) Valparaiso.  Predicted winner:  Missouri State

3/6 – Semifinals

1:05 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Loyola (IL) vs. (4) Indiana State.  Predicted winner:  Loyola (IL) 

4:05 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Drake vs. (3) Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  Drake

3/7 – Finals

2:10 p.m. (CBS) (1) Loyola (IL) vs. (2) Drake.  Predicted winner:  Loyola (IL)

Mountain West (March 10-13; Las Vegas)

3/10 – First Round

2 p.m. (MWN) (8) vs. (9) 

4:30 p.m. (MWN) (7) vs. (10) 

7 p.m. (MWN) (6) vs. (11) 

3/11 – 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)

3/12 – Semifinals

9:30 p.m. (CBSSN) 

11:59 p.m. (CBSSN) 

3/13 – Finals

6 p.m. (CBS)  

Predicted winner:  San Diego State

Northeast Conference (March 6, 9; campus of higher seed)

3/6 – Semifinals

12 p.m. (ESPN3, NEC Front Row) (4) at (1) 

2 p.m. (ESPN3, NEC Front Row) (3) at (2) 

3/9 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN2) 

Predicted winner:  Bryant

Ohio Valley (March 3-6; Evansville, IN)

Quarterfinals

3/3

8 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Belmont vs. (8) SIUE.  Predicted winner:  Belmont

10:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Morehead State vs. (7) Southeast Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  Morehead State

3/4

8 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Jacksonville State vs. (5) Murray State.  Predicted winner:  Jacksonville State

10:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Eastern Kentucky vs. (6) Austin Peay.  Predicted winner:  Eastern Kentucky

3/5 – Semifinals

8 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Belmont vs. (4) Jacksonville State.  Predicted winner:  Belmont

10:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Morehead State vs. (3) Eastern Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Morehead State

3/6 – Finals

8 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Belmont vs. (2) Morehead State.  Predicted winner:  Belmont

Pac-12 (March 10-13; Las Vegas)

3/10 – First Round

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

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

10 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (6) vs. (11) California

3/11 – Quarterfinals

2:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1)  vs. (8)/(9)

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

8:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (2)  vs. (7)/(10)

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

3/12 – Semifinals

8:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

11:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3/13 – Finals

10:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Oregon

Patriot League (March 3, 6, 10, 14; campus of higher seed)

3/3 – First Round

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Lehigh at (7) Boston.  Predicted winner:  Boston

7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) Loyola (MD) at (8) Holy Cross.  Predicted winner:  Holy Cross

3/6 – Quarterfinals

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Holy Cross at (1) Navy.  Predicted winner:  Navy

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Bucknell at (3) Lafayette.  Predicted winner:  Lafayette

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Boston at (2) Colgate.  Predicted winner:  Colgate

8 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) American at (4) Army.  Predicted winner:  Army

3/10 – Semifinals

5:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) Army at (1) Navy.  Predicted winner:  Navy

7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Lafayette at (2) Colgate.  Predicted winner:  Colgate

3/14 – Finals

12 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Colgate at (1) Navy.  Predicted winner:  Colgate

SEC (March 10-14; Nashville)

3/10 – First Round

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

3/11 – Second Round

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

2:30 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)

3/12 – Quarterfinals

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

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

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

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

3/13 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3/14 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Alabama

Southern Conference (March 5-8; Asheville, NC)

3/5 - First Round

5:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) The Citadel vs. (9) Western Carolina.  Predicted winner:  The Citadel

8 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Mercer vs. (10) Samford.  Predicted winner:  Mercer

3/6 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) UNC Greensboro vs. (8) The Citadel.  Predicted winner:  UNC Greensboro

2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Chattanooga vs. (5) East Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Chattanooga

5:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Wofford vs. (7) Mercer.  Predicted winner:  Wofford

8 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Furman vs. (6) VMI.  Predicted winner:  Furman

3/7 – Semifinals

5 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) UNC Greensboro vs. (4) Chattanooga.  Predicted winner:  UNC Greensboro

7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Wofford vs. (3) Furman.  Predicted winner:  Furman

3/8 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) UNC Greensboro vs. (3) Furman.  Predicted winner:  UNC Greensboro

Southland (March 10-13; Katy, TX)

3/10 – First Round

6 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) vs. (8)

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) vs. (7)

3/11 – Second Round

6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)/(8)

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)/(7)

3/12 – Semifinals

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

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)

3/13 – Finals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Stephen F. Austin

Summit (March 6-9; Sioux Falls, SD)

Quarterfinals

3/6

6:45 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN+) (1) South Dakota State vs. (8) Omaha.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota State

9:45 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN+) (2) South Dakota vs. (7) Western Illinois.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota

3/7

6:45 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN+) (4) Oral Roberts v. (5) North Dakota.  Predicted winner:  Oral Roberts

9:45 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN+) (3) North Dakota State vs. (6) Kansas City.  Predicted winner: North Dakota State

3/8 – Semifinals

6:45 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN+) (1) South Dakota State vs. (4) Oral Roberts.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota State

9:45 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN+) (2) South Dakota vs. (3) North Dakota State.  Predicted winner:  North Dakota State

3/9 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Dakota State vs. (3) North Dakota State.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota State

Sun Belt (March 5-8; Pensacola, FL)

3/5 – First Round

5 p.m. (ESPN+) (W4) Arkansas State vs. (E5) Georgia Southern.  Predicted winner:  Georgia Southern

7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (E3) South Alabama vs. (W6) Louisiana-Monroe.  Predicted winner:  South Alabama

8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (E4) Appalachian State vs. (W5) Little Rock.  Predicted winner:  Appalachian State

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (W3) UT Arlington vs. (W6) Troy.  Predicted winner:  UT Arlington

3/6 – Quarterfinals

6 p.m. (ESPN+) (W2) Louisiana vs. (E3) South Alabama.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana

6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (E1) Georgia State vs. (E5) Georgia Southern.  Predicted winner:  Georgia State

8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (E2) Coastal Carolina vs. (W3) UT Arlington.  Predicted winner:  Coastal Carolina

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (W1) Texas State vs. (E4) Appalachian State.  Predicted winner:  Texas State

3/7 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (E1) Georgia State vs. (W2) Louisiana.  Predicted winner:  Georgia State

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (W1) Texas State vs. (E2) Coastal Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Texas State

3/8 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (E1) Georgia State vs. (W1) Texas State.  Predicted winner:  Texas State

SWAC (March 10-13; Birmingham, AL)

Quarterfinals

3/10

3 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)

9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (8)

3/11

3 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)

9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)

3/12 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN+)

9:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

3/13 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Prairie View A&M

WAC (March 10, 12-13; Las Vegas)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

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

7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)

3/12 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (4)/(5)

5 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (3)/(6)

3/13 – Finals

5 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Grand Canyon

West Coast (March 4-6, 8-9; Las Vegas)

3/4 – First Round

9 p.m. (Stadium) (8) San Francisco vs. (9) San Diego.  Predicted winner:  San Francisco

11:59 p.m. (Stadium) (7) Santa Clara vs. (10) Portland.  Predicted winner:  Santa Clara

3/5 - Second Round

9 p.m. (Stadium) (5) Loyola Marymount vs. (8) San Francisco.  Predicted winner:  Loyola Marymount

11:59 p.m. (Stadium) (6) Pacific vs. (7) Santa Clara.  Predicted winner:  Santa Clara

3/6 – Third Round

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (4) St. Mary's vs. (5) Loyola Marymount.  Predicted winner:  Loyola Marymount

11:59 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) Pepperdine vs. (7) Santa Clara.  Predicted winner:  Santa Clara

3/8 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (5) Loyola Marymount.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

11:59 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) BYU vs. (7) Santa Clara.  Predicted winner:  BYU

3/9 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (2) BYU.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

CoronaVinyl Day 226 (M): Got To Find a Way by Curtis Mayfield

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

I meant to post this last night, but instead I decided to watch a great Showtime documentary on Motown called Hitsville: The Making of Motown.  It's free on Amazon Prime Video until tomorrow, so watch it if you can!

Yesterday's CoronaVinyl category was "M," and I ended Black History Month with a bang, listening to Curtis Mayfield's 1974 album Got to Find a Way.  Back in April, a mere 194 CoronaVinyl albums ago, I featured Mayfield's iconic Super Fly soundtrack for the "Illinois" category, and I ran through his history and many accomplishments there, so I won't repeat all that here.  Suffice it to say, Mayfield is a soul and funk icon.

On Got to Find a Way -- which only has three songs per side -- Mayfield continued to hone his funk/soul jam skills, with all but two songs clocking in at 5:50 or longer.  The album wasn't a huge success -- topping out at #76 on the Billboard album chart and #18 on the Billboard R&B album chart, and only producing one charting song, "Mother's Son," which reached #15 on the Billboard R&B singles chart -- but I think it's pretty damn good.  Mayfield's voice is silky as always, and the album somehow sounds polished and funky at the same time (and I'm not using "polished" pejoratively).  Of course, I prefer the funkier songs to the slower, soul ballads, but that's just me.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Love Me (Right in the Pocket)"

The first track on the album is the funkiest track on Side 1, and the title implies some sort of jeans pocket handy.  

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Mother's Son"
I like the second side better than the first because all three songs are on the funkier side.  It was really a toss-up between all three songs, but I went with "Mother's Son."  It's funky, baby.

Hair Band Friday - 2/26/21

1.  "Face Down in the Gutter" by XYZ

2.  "I'll Be There For You" by Bon Jovi

3.  "Bad Attitude Shuffle" by Cinderella

4.  "Public Enemy #1" by Mötley Crüe

5.  "Fire In My Heart" by Lita Ford

6.  "Operation: Mindcrime" by Queensrÿche

7.  "The Hellion" by Judas Priest

8.  "I Said The Wrong Thing to the Right Girl" by Keel

9.  "Red Lite, Green Lite, TNT" by Kix

10.  "Tora! Tora!" by Van Halen

CoronaVinyl Day 225 (L): Dr. Feelgood by Billy Larkin & The Delegates

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Apologies for not posting anything yesterday.  I was way too damn busy, and on top of that, I was working in an area of the house without a turntable (egad!).  Today's CoronaVinyl category is "L," and I'm going with a 1968 album by Billy Larkin & The Delegates called Dr. Feelgood (no relation to the 1989 Mötley Crüe album of the same name). 

There's not much online about Billy Larkin or The Delegates, but from what I can gather from the liner notes and some stuff online, Larkin was a Portland-based jazz/soul organist, and The Delegates were his backing band.  They were active from about 1964 to 1968.

Dr. Feelgood -- which has the subtitle "introducing Ralph Black" -- is a combination of instrumental songs and non-instrumental songs, the latter with Black on vocals.  The songs mostly have soul or jazz feel (with some blues mixed in), Black's voice is smooth, and the musicians are great.  It's generally a pleasurable album to listen to while doing some work.  

The album isn't on Spotify, though I'm embedding a YouTube video with the full album.  Here's a track listing.  If it's a cover, I'm listing the original artist.  If it's an original, I note that.  And if it's an instrumental, I note that as well.

Side 1
1.  "On Broadway" (cover of The Drifters)
2.  "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (cover of Otis Redding) (instrumental)
3.  "Baby I Love You" (cover of Aretha Franklin)
4.  "Way Cross Town" (original)
5.  "Chain of Fools" (cover of Aretha Franklin) (instrumental)
6.  "This Is Worth Fighting For" (cover of several artists, including Gil Bernal)

Side 2
1.  "Spooky" (cover of The Classics IV) (instrumental)
2.  "Gone Over You" (appears to be a cover)
3.  "Hear & Now" (original) (instrumental)
4.  "Ode to Billie Joe" (cover of Bobbie Gentry)
5.  "Dr. Feelgood" (cover of Aretha Franklin) (instrumental)
6.  "I Got a Woman" (cover of Ray Charles)

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Chain of Fools"

The group's instrumental cover of the Aretha Franklin classic "Chain of Fools" gives the song a soulful send up.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Ode to Billie Joe"
The band takes Bobbie Gentry's #1 hit from 1967 and transforms it from its original country form to pure soul.

CoronaVinyl Day 224 (K): Love Gun by KISS

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "K," and all I have left are KISS albums.  You may think that only the four members of the band -- whoever they might have been at any particular time -- performed on KISS albums, such that I wouldn't be able to find a way to fit a KISS album into my February Black History Month theme.  However, on the band's 1977 Love Gun album, the band had the help of several African-American singers on the song "Tomorrow and Tonight."  Specifically, the signature backing vocals on the song were courtesy of former Broadway singer/actress Tasha Thomas, Ray Simpson of the Village People (he would become "the Cop" in 1979, and his sister is Valerie Simpson, one half of the legendary songwriting team of Ashford and Simpson), and opera singer Hilda Harris.

Love Gun was KISS's sixth studio album, and when it was released, KISS was on top of the rock world.  It's a great album top to bottom (or at least top to the penultimate song, since the last song on the album is a seemingly out-of-place cover of The Crystals' "Then He Kissed Me").  Love Gun was the first KISS album to feature lead vocals from all four members of the band, and there really isn't a bad song on the album (even "Then She Kissed Me," which was written by .  "Christine Sixteen" and "Tomorrow and Tonight" show off the band's glam chops, the title track, "I Stole Your Love," and "Shock Me" became concert staples, "Got Love For Sale," "Almost Human," "Plaster Caster," and "Hooligan" are underappreciated gems.  

The album was the band's highest-charting album up to that point, and their first Top 5 album on the Billboard album chart, going to #4.  It produced the band's sixth Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, "Christine Sixteen," a song whose subject matter (Gene Simmons lusting after a 16-year-old girl) doesn't really hold up, even if the music does.  That reached #25.  The title track also reached #61.

As you can see, I have the original album, complete with a cardboard "Love Gun," a KISS merchandise order form, and little glossy insert of photos called "The Evolution of KISS."  My only quibble is that this is another one of those albums where the track listing on the back of the album doesn't match up with the actual order of songs on the album.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Shock Me"

Ace is my favorite KISS member, and while he had written many songs for the band, he was always too self-conscious to sing.  That all changed with "Shock Me," which is the first song on which Ace sang lead vocals -- although he recorded his vocals lying on the floor because of his vocal insecurities.  It's a somewhat tongue-in-cheek reference to a December 1976 concert in Florida where Ace was electrocuted during the band's first song when he touched an ungrounded metal railing.  Luckily, he was only knocked to the ground, and the concert was only delayed for about 30 minutes.  This is kind of Ace's theme song, and it's a great rocker.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Plaster Caster"
"Plaster Caster" is about Cynthia Plaster Caster, a woman who used to make plaster molds of famous musicians' erect dongs, including Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Eric Burdon, among others.  The song is hard, but not too long.  Ah-thank you.

CoronaVinyl Day 223 (J): Off the Wall by Michael Jackson

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "J," and we're going with Michael Jackson's breakthrough solo album, 1979's Off the Wall.

Though he had been a star for a decade, both as a member of the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist, he wasn't yet The King of Pop or the international star that he would become in the early '80s.  The mid to late '70s weren't particularly successful for Jackson, with only a smattering of minor hits.

To shake things up, Jackson left Motown for Epic Records and teamed with producer Quincy Jones (who would produce his next several albums as well) and, for the most part, cut musical ties with his family.  The result was pure magic, setting the stage for Jackson's ascent into unprecedented stardom that would come three years later with Thriller.

Off the Wall is a combination of pop, soul, funk, and disco, with songwriting contributions from Jackson himself, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Rod Temperton, and David Foster, among others.  The album reached #3 on the Billboard album chart,which was his highest-charting solo album at the time.  It also topped the Billboard R&B album chart for 16 weeks and reached the Top 10 on the album charts in Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK.

The album produced four Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, making Jackson the first solo artist to have four Top 10 songs from the same album.  "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was Jackson's second solo #1, and his first since "Ben" in 1972.  "Rock With You" also hit #1, and the title track and "She's Out of My Life" both went to #10.

Off the Wall has gone 9x platinum in the U.S., has attained platinum certification in eleven other countries, and has sold 20 million copies worldwide.  It was ranked #36 on Rolling Stone's most recent list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Working Day and Night"

I passed up the two #1 songs on this side for the third song, which is an uptempo funky disco-esque track, with a couple signature MJ howls here and there.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Off the Wall"
The title track is another funk/disco song that's all about escaping the mundanity of your daily life when you're going out at night.

CoronaVinyl Day 222 (I): Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "I," and I only have one album left by an "I" artist, so today you are graced with Iron Maiden's eponymous 1980 debut album.

It's fitting that Iron Maiden falls on Day 222 of CoronaVinyl.  If multiplied by three, 222 becomes 666 -- the Number of the Beast, which is Iron Maiden's third studio album.  And if one two is removed, it becomes 22 -- as in the address on Acacia Avenue on which Charlotte the Harlot lives.  It

Anyway, back in 1980, Iron Maiden and other British metal bands basically changed the metal game, inventing a new genre called the New Wave of British Heavy Metal classic, which combined the energy and speed of punk music with the virtuosity and musicianship of metal.

With their twin lead guitars, insane bass lines, and dark, often literary, and sometimes medieval imagery in their lyrics, Iron Maiden quickly established themselves as metal gods.  As you may or may not know, this was one of two albums made with lead singer Paul Di'Anno, before he was replaced by Bruce Dickinson.  Di'Anno has more of a gritty punk voice, in stark contrast to Dickinson's booming operatic voice.  Bass player Steve Harris, who is also the band's lead songwriter, is ridiculous.  The album not only changed metal, but also introduced the world to rock music's most identifiable mascot, Eddie.

While the album didn't chart in the U.S., it was a hit in the UK, getting as high as #4 on the UK album charts, the first of the band's studio 14 albums (and 17 albums overall) that cracked the UK Top 10 (five went to #1).  It also spawned the band's first UK Top 40 hit, "Running Free," which reached #34.  In addition, "Sanctuary" -- which was featured on the U.S. version of the album, but not the UK version -- went to #29.  The band would go on to have an additional 32 Top 40 hits in the UK, including 16 Top 10 songs and one #1 (1990's "Bring Your Daughter ... To the Slaughter").

Iron Maiden (the album) is an important and influential album in metal history, and it has rightfully received various accolades over the years.  In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked the album #13 on its list of 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.

This is also somewhat timely, as Iron Maiden is also on this year's list of nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  You can take part in the fan vote -- which doesn't really mean anything significant, but can often be a bellwether of induction.  The top five artists in the fan vote will comprise one ballot that will be tallied along with the other thousands of votes from living Rock Hall inductees and music industry insiders and journalists.  You can vote once a day from now through April 30.  Vote for Iron Maiden!  And Foo Fighters, Tina Turner, New York Dolls, The Go-Go's, and Rage Against the Machine!  Yes, I realize that's more than five, but you can always switch up your votes each day.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Prowler"

I always go back and forth between whether I like "Prowler" or "Running Free" better.  They're both awesome songs, but today is a "Prowler" day for me.  The first song on the album, it's a snarling hard rocker about a flasher, with a wicked solo.  All in all, it's a perfect "hello" to the world for NWOBHM.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Iron Maiden"
The rare self-titled song from a self-titled album, "Iron Maiden" starts off with a guitar riff that beckons you.  And then Di'Anno himself beckons you with the first line, in which he asks you to come into his room so that he can show you all his wares.  However, his motives are not innocent.  This is a frenetic, fantastic metal song.