Monday, February 27, 2023

Championship Week is Upon Us!

It's here, folks.  March starts two days early this year, as Championship Week begins today!  And Selection Sunday is a mere 13 days away!  Madness!

But before we get to the Big Dance, we'll have 329 teams in 32 conferences playing in 297 conference tournament games.  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.  Sweet Jesus, the buzzer beaters!

Last Year's Championship Week
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.  Last year, two schools punched their first-ever tickets to the dance -- Bryant in the NEC and Longwood in the Big South.  Also, of the 32 conference tournaments, the top seed won only 15 of them, and we had 9 schools seeded 4 or lower won their conference tournaments:
  • 4-seeds:  Akron (MAC), Loyola (IL) (MVC), Texas A&M-CC (Southland), UAB (Conference USA -- was the West 2-seed, so I'm counting that as a 4-seed), Wright State (Horizon)
  • 5-seeds:  Delaware (CAA), Iowa (Big Ten)
  • 6-seeds:  Richmond (A-10)
  • 7-seeds:  Virginia Tech (ACC)
Two of those schools won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament:
  • Wright State was a 16-seed and won an Opening Round game before losing to Arizona in the First Round
  • 12-seed Richmond beat 5-seed Iowa in the First Round
Schools Looking For Their First NCAA Tournament Bid
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).  Overall, there are 37 Division 1 schools that are eligible to make the NCAA Tournament (i.e., that are not still in the transition period to D-1 from a lower division) that have never made the tournament.  Here they are with their conference and, to the extent it has already been set, their seed in their conference tournament.
  • Army - 4-seed Patriot League 
  • Bethune–Cookman - SWAC
  • Cal Baptist - WAC
  • California Riverside - Big West
  • Central Arkansas - Atlantic Sun (did not qualify for A-Sun Tournament)
  • Chicago State - WAC
  • The Citadel - 9-seed Southern Conference
  • Denver - 8-seed Summit League
  • Elon - 9-seed Colonial
  • Grambling - SWAC
  • High Point - 8-seed Big South
  • Incarnate Word - Southland
  • Kansas City - 7-seed Summit League
  • Kennesaw State - 1-seed Atlantic Sun
  • Maine - America East
  • Maryland Eastern Shore - MEAC
  • UMass Lowell - America East
  • New Hampshire - America East
  • NJIT - America East
  • North Alabama - 6-seed Atlantic Sun
  • Omaha - 10-seed Summit League
  • Presbyterian - 10-seed Big South
  • Purdue Fort Wayne - 9-seed Horizon
  • Quinnipiac - MAAC
  • Sacramento State - Big Sky
  • Sacred Heart - 4-seed Northeast Conference
  • St. Francis Brooklyn - 7-seed Northeast Conference
  • SIU Edwardsville - 6-seed Ohio Valley
  • South Carolina Upstate - 4-seed Big South
  • South Dakota - 6-seed Summit League
  • Stetson - 4-seed in Atlantic Sun
  • Tennessee Martin - 3-seed Ohio Valley
  • Texas Rio Grande Valley - WAC
  • Utah Valley - WAC
  • Western Illinois - 4-seed Summit League
  • William & Mary - 8-seed Colonial
  • Youngstown State - 1-seed Horizon
The following schools are still in their transition period to Division 1 and are, therefore, not eligible for this year's NCAA Tournament (with their conference and first year of eligibility for the NCAA Tournament listed):
  • Bellarmine - Atlantic Sun (2025)
  • California San Diego - Big West (2025)
  • Lindenwood - OVC (2027)
  • Merrimack - Northeast Conference (2024)
  • Queens (NC) - Atlantic Sun (2027)
  • St. Thomas - Summit League (2026)
  • Southern Indiana - OVC (2027)
  • Stonehill - NEC (2027)
  • Tarleton State - WAC (2025)
  • Texas A&M Commerce - Southland (2027)
  • Utah Tech - WAC (2025)
Mid- and Low-Major NCAA Tournament Success
And, of course, as the last ten NCAA Tournaments have shown us -- with the likes of Butler (2017), Creighton (2021), Dayton (2014), Florida Gulf Coast (2013), Gonzaga (2015-2019, 2021-2022), LaSalle (2013), Loyola (IL) (2018, 2021), Nevada (2018), Oral Roberts (2021), San Diego State (2014), St. Peter's (2022), Wichita State (2013, 2015), and Xavier (2012, 2015, 2017) 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.

Championship Week 2022
Over the next two weeks, I will pepper you with Championship Week predictions as conference tournaments begin and/or are seeded.  The A-Sun starts its tournament today with a 7-8 North Florida/Bellarmine matchup and a 9-10 Queens/Florida Gulf Coast matchup.  Eleven other conferences have ended their regular seasons and set their conference tournament brackets (the Big South, CAA, Horizon, MVC, NEC, OVC, Patriot, SoCon, Summit, Sun Belt, WCC).  I'll try to update this daily.

As a frame of reference, of my initial Championship Week predictions in 2022, I was 13 of 32 in correctly predicting the eventual conference tournament champion, which is about par for the course and further evidence that nothing can be predicted in March except the Chicago River being dyed green.  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 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 and last NCAA Tournament appearance where applicable, and for conferences whose tournaments have not yet ended, I'll list the date of the championship game)
-AAC (March 12)
-ACC (March 11)
-America East (March 11)
-Atlantic 10 (March 12)
-Atlantic Sun (March 5)
-Big 12 (March 11)
-Big East (March 11)
-Big Sky (March 8)
-Big South (March 5)
-Big Ten (March 12)
-Big West (March 11)
-Colonial (March 7)
-Conference USA (March 11)
-Horizon (March 7)
-Ivy League (March 12)
-MAAC (March 11)
-MAC (March 11)
-MEAC (March 11)
-Missouri Valley (March 5)
-Mountain West (March 11)
-Northeast Conference (March 7)
-Ohio Valley (March 4)
-Pac-12 (March 11)
-Patriot League (March 8)
-SEC (March 12)
-Southern Conference (March 6)
-Southland (March 8)
-Summit (March 7)
-Sun Belt (March 6)
-SWAC (March 11)
-WAC (March 11)
-West Coast (March 7)

Because I am unhealthily obsessed with college basketball in March -- to the detriment of my marriage, children, friendships, work, sleep schedule, sanity, wallet, yodeling practice, and loyalty to Dionysus -- 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; Fort Worth)
3/9 – First Round
12:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9)
2:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) vs. (10)
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (6) vs. (11) Tulsa
3/10 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Houston vs. (8)/(9)
3 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:  Houston

ACC (March 7-11; Greensboro)
3/7 – 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)
3/8 – Second Round
12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (8) vs. (9)
2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
7 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN2) (7) vs. (10)/(15)
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/9 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)
3/10 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
3/11 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Predicted winner:  Virginia

America East (March 4, 7, 11; campus of higher seed for semis and final)
3/4 - Quarterfinals
TBD (ESPN+) (8) at (1) Vermont
TBD (ESPN+) (7) at (2) UMass Lowell
TBD (ESPN+) (6) at (3)
TBD (ESPN+) (5) at (4)
3/7 – Semifinals
TBD (ESPN+) (lowest seed at highest seed)
TBD (ESPN+) (second-lowest seed at second-highest seed)
3/11 – Finals
TBD (TBD) (lower seed at higher seed)  
Predicted winner:  Vermont

Atlantic 10 (March 7-12; Brooklyn)
3/7 – First Round
12 p.m. (ESPN+) (12) vs. (13)
3:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) vs. (15)
5:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (11) vs. (14)
3/8 – Second Round
Noon (USA, Peacock) (8) vs. (9)
2:30 p.m. (USA) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
6 p.m. (USA) (7) vs. (10)/(15)
8:30 p.m. (USA) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/9 – Quarterfinals
Noon (USA) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
2:30 p.m. (USA) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
6 p.m. (USA) (2) vs. (7)/(10)/(15)
8:30 p.m. (USA) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)
3/11 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBSSN)
3:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
3/12 – Finals
1 p.m. (CBS)
Predicted winner:  VCU

Atlantic Sun (February 27-28, March 2, 5; campus sites of higher seeds)
2/27 - First Round
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Florida Gulf Coast at (9) Queens*.  Predicted winner:  Queens*
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Bellarmine* at (7) North Florida.  Predicted winner:  North Florida
2/28 – Quarterfinals
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) Queens* at (1) Kennesaw State.  Predicted winner:  Kennesaw State
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) Lipscomb at (4) Stetson.  Predicted winner:  Stetson
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) North Florida at (2) Liberty.  Predicted winner:  Liberty
TBD (ESPN+) (6) North Alabama at (3) Eastern Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Eastern Kentucky
3/2 – Semifinals
TBD (ESPN+) (4) Stetson at (1) Kennesaw State.  Predicted winner:  Kennesaw State
TBD (ESPN+) (3) Eastern Kentucky at (2) Liberty.  Predicted winner:  Liberty
3/5 – Finals
3 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Liberty at (1) Kennesaw State.  Predicted winner:  Liberty
*Ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-II.  If an ineligible team wins the tournament, Kennesaw State will get the automatic bid.

Big 12 (March 8-11; Kansas City)
3/8 – First Round
7 p.m. (TBD) (8) vs. (9)
9:30 p.m. (TBD) (7) vs. (10) 
3/9 – Quarterfinals
12:30 p.m. (TBD) (4) vs. (5)
3 p.m. (TBD) (1)  vs. (8)/(9)
7 p.m. (TBD) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
9:30 p.m. (TBD) (3) vs. (6)
3/10 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (TBD)
9:30 p.m. (TBD)
3/11 – Finals
6 p.m. (TBD)
Predicted winner:  Kansas

Big East (March 8-11; New York)
3/8 – First Round
3 p.m. (FS1) (8) vs. (9)
5:30 p.m. (FS1) (7) vs. (10) 
8 p.m. (FS1) (6) vs. (11) 
3/9 – Quarterfinals
Noon (FS1) (1) Providence vs. (8)/(9)
2:30 p.m. (FS1) (4) vs. (5)
7 p.m. (FS1) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
9:30 p.m. (FS1) (3) vs. (6)/(11)
3/10 – Semifinals
6:30 p.m. (FS1)
9 p.m. (FS1)
3/11 – Finals
6:30 p.m. (Fox)
Predicted winner:  Xavier

Big Sky (March 4-8; Boise)
3/4 – First Round
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) vs. (10)
10 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) vs. (8) 
Quarterfinals
3/6
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Eastern Washington vs. (9)/(10)
10 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Montana State vs. (7)/(8)
3/6
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
10 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)
3/7 – Semifinals
7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
10 p.m. (ESPN2)
3/8 – Finals
8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner:  Eastern Washington

Big South (March 1, 3-5; Charlotte)
3/1 - First Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) High Point vs. (9) Charleston Southern.  Predicted winner:  High Point
8 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Campbell vs. (10) Presbyterian.  Predicted winner:  Campbell
3/3 – Quarterfinals
Noon (ESPN+) (1) UNC Asheville vs. (8) High Point.  Predicted winner:  UNC Asheville
2 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) South Carolina Upstate vs. (5) Gardner-Webb.  Predicted winner:  South Carolina Upstate
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Longwood vs. (7) Campbell.  Predicted winner:  Longwood
8 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Radford vs. (6) Winthrop.  Predicted winner:  Radford
3/4 – Semifinals
Noon (ESPN+) (1) UNC Asheville  vs. (4) South Carolina Upstate.  Predicted winner:  UNC Asheville
2 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Longwood vs. (3) Radford.  Predicted winner:  Longwood
3/5 – Finals
1 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) UNC Asheville vs. (2) Longwood.  Predicted winner:  UNC Asheville

Big Ten (March 8-12; Chicago)
3/8 – First Round
6:30 p.m. (BTN) (12) vs. (13) 
9 p.m. (BTN) (11) vs. (14)
3/9 – Second Round
Noon (BTN) (8) vs. (9)
2:30 p.m. (BTN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
6:30 p.m. (BTN) (7) vs. (10)
9 p.m. (BTN) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/10 – Quarterfinals
Noon (BTN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
2:30 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)
3/11 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBS)
3:30 p.m. (CBS)
3/12 – Finals
3:30 p.m. (CBS) 
Predicted winner:  Indiana

Big West (March 7, 9-11; Henderson, NV)
3/7 - First Round
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (9)
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) vs. (10)
3/9 – Quarterfinals
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)
3/10 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) 
11:30 p.m. (ESPNU) 
3/11 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner:  UC Santa Barbara

CAA (March 3-7; Washington, DC)
3/3 – First Round
2 p.m. (FloHoops) (12) Hampton vs. (13) Monmouth.  Predicted winner:  Hampton
3/4 - Second Round
Noon (FloHoops) (8) William & Mary vs. (9) Elon.  Predicted winner:  William & Mary
2:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (5) Drexel vs. (12) Hampton.  Predicted winner:  Drexel
6 p.m. (FloHoops) (7) North Carolina A&T vs. (10) Stony Brook.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina A&T
8:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (6) Delaware vs. (11) Northeastern.  Predicted winner:  Delaware
3/5 – Quarterfinals
Noon (FloHoops) (1) Hofstra vs. (8) William & Mary.  Predicted winner:  Hofstra
2:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (4) UNC Wilmington vs. (5) Drexel.  Predicted winner:  UNC Wilmington
6 p.m. (FloHoops) (2) Charleston vs. (7) North Carolina A&T.  Predicted winner:  Charleston
8:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (3) Towson vs. (6) Delaware.  Predicted winner:  Towson
3/6 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Hofstra vs. (4) UNC Wilmington.  Predicted winner:  UNC Wilmington
8:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Charleston vs. (3) Towson.  Predicted winner:  Charleston
3/7 – Finals
7 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Charleston vs. (4) UNC Wilmington.  Predicted winner:  Charleston

Conference USA (March 8-11; Frisco, TX)
3/8 - First Round
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (9)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) vs. (10)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) vs. (11) UTSA
3/9 – Quarterfinals
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) FAU vs. (8)/(9)
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (4)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) North Texas vs. (7)/(10)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)/(11)
3/10 – Semifinals
12:30 p.m. (CBSSN) 
3 p.m. (CBSSN)
3/11 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (CBSSN) 
Predicted winner:  FAU

Horizon (February 28, March 2, 6-7; first round and quarterfinals at campus sites of higher seed and remaining rounds in Indianapolis)
2/28 - First Round
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (11) IUPUI at (6) Robert Morris.  Predicted winner:  Robert Morris
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Green Bay at (7) Wright State.  Predicted winner:  Wright State
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) Purdue Fort Wayne at (8) Detroit.  Predicted winner:  Detroit
3/2 - Quarterfinals
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Detroit at (1) Youngstown State.  Predicted winner:  Youngstown State
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) Oakland at (4) Northern Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Northern Kentucky
7 p.m. (ESPN+)  (6) Robert Morris at (3) Cleveland State.  Predicted winner:  Cleveland State
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Wright State at (2) Milwaukee.  Predicted winner:  Milwaukee
3/6 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Youngstown State vs. (4) Northern Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Northern Kentucky
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Milwaukee vs. (3) Cleveland State.  Predicted winner:  Milwaukee
3/7 – Finals
7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Milwaukee vs. (4) Northern Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Milwaukee

Ivy League (March 11-12; Princeton, NJ)
3/11 - Semifinals
11 a.m. (ESPNU) (1) vs. (4) 
2 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (3)
3/12 - Finals
Noon (ESPN2)
Predicted winner:  Princeton

MAAC (March 7-11; Atlantic City, NJ)
3/7 - First Round
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (9)   
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (7)  vs. (10)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (6)  vs. (11) Canisius
Quarterfinals
3/8
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (1)  vs. (8)/(9)  
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2)  vs. (7)/(10)   
3/9
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (3)  vs. (6)/(11)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4)  vs. (5) Marist
3/10 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPNews) 
8:30 p.m. (ESPNews) 
3/11 – Finals
4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Predicted winner:  Iona

MAC (March 9-11; Cleveland)
3/9 – Quarterfinals
11 a.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (8)
1:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
4 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)
3/10 – Semifinals
5 p.m. (CBSSN)
7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
3/11 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner:  Toledo

MEAC (March 8-11; Norfolk, VA)
Quarterfinals
3/8
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (8)
8 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)
3/9
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
8 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)
3/10 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+) 
8 p.m. (ESPN+) 
3/11 – Final
1:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner:  Norfolk State

Missouri Valley (March 2-5; St. Louis)
3/2 – First Round
1 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (8) Northern Iowa vs. (9) Illinois State.  Predicted winner:  Northern Iowa
3:30 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (5) Indiana State vs. (12) Evansville.  Predicted winner:  Indiana State
7 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (7) Murray State vs. (10) Valparaiso.  Predicted winner:  Murray State
9:30 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (6) Missouri State vs. (10) UIC.  Predicted winner:  Missouri State
3/3 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (1) Bradley vs. (8) Northern Iowa.  Predicted winner:  Bradley
3:30 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (4) Belmont vs. (5) Indiana State.  Predicted winner:  Indiana State
7 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (2) Drake vs. (7) Murray State.  Predicted winner:  Drake
9:30 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (3) Southern Illinois vs. (6) Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  Southern Illinois
3/4 – Semifinals
3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Bradley vs. (5) Indiana State.  Predicted winner:  Bradley
6 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Drake vs. (3) Southern Illinois.  Predicted winner:  Drake
3/5 – Finals
2 p.m. (CBS) (1) Bradley vs. (2) Drake.  Predicted winner:  Drake

Mountain West (March 8-11; Las Vegas)
3/8 – First Round
2 p.m. (Stadium/MWN) (8) vs. (9) 
4:30 p.m. (Stadium/MWN) (7) vs. (10)
7 p.m. (Stadium/MWN) (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
9:30 p.m. (CBSSN) 
11:59 p.m. (CBSSN) 
3/11 – Finals
6 p.m. (CBS)  
Predicted winner:  San Diego State

Northeast Conference (March 1, 4, 7; campus of higher seed)
3/1 - Quarterfinals
7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (8) LIU at (1) Merrimack*.  Predicted winner:  Merrimack*
7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (7) St. Francis (Brooklyn) at (2) Fairleigh Dickinson.  Predicted winner:  Fairleigh Dickinson
7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (6) Central Connecticut State at (3) St. Francis (PA).  Predicted winner:  St. Francis (PA)
7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (5) Wagner at (4) Sacred Heart.  Predicted winner:  Wagner
3/4 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+, NEC Front Row) (5) Wagner at (1) Merrimack*.  Predicted winner:  Merrimack*
8 p.m. (ESPN+, NEC Front Row) (3) St. Francis (PA) at (2) Fairleigh Dickinson.  Predicted winner:  Fairleigh Dickinson
3/7 – Finals
7 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Fairleigh Dickinson at (1) Merrimack*.  Predicted winner:  Fairleigh Dickinson
*Ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-II.  If Merrimack wins the tournament, the runner up will get the automatic bid.

Ohio Valley (March 1-4; Evansville, IN)
3/1 - First Round
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) Southeast Missouri State vs. (8) Lindenwood*.  Predicted winner:  Southeast Missouri State
10:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) SIU Edwardsville vs. (7) Southern Indiana*.  Predicted winner:  SIU Edwardsville
3/2 - Quarterfinals
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Tennessee State vs. (5) Southeast Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee State
10 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Tennessee Martin vs. (6) SIU Edwardsville.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee Martin
3/3 – Semifinals
8 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Morehead State vs. (4) Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Morehead State
10:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Tennessee Tech vs. (3) Tennessee Martin.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee Martin
3/4 – Finals
8 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Morehead State vs. (3) Tennessee Martin.  Predicted winner:  Morehead State
*Ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-II.

Pac-12 (March 8-11; Paradise, NV)
3/8 – First Round
3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (8) vs. (9)
5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (5) vs. (12) California
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) UCLA 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. (ESPN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)
3/10 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
11:30 p.m. (ESPN)
3/11 – Finals
10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Predicted winner:  Arizona

Patriot League (February 28, March 2, 5, 8; campus of higher seed)
2/28 – First Round
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Bucknell at (7) American.  Predicted winner:  American
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) Holy Cross at (8) Loyola (MD).  Predicted winner:  Loyola (MD)
3/2 – Quarterfinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+(5) Boston at (4) Army.  Predicted winner:  Army
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Loyola (MD) at (1) Colgate.  Predicted winner:  Colgate
7 p.m. (ESPN+(6) Lafayette at (3) Lehigh.  Predicted winner:  Lehigh
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) American at (2) Navy.  Predicted winner:  Navy
3/5 – Semifinals
2 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) Army at (1) Colgate.  Predicted winner:  Colgate
4 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Lehigh at (2) Navy.  Predicted winner:  Navy
3/8 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Navy at (1) Colgate.  Predicted winner:  Colgate

SEC (March 8-12; Nashville)
3/8 – First Round
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (12) vs. (13)
9 p.m. (SEC Network) (11) vs. (14)
3/9 – Second Round
1 p.m. (SEC Network) (8) vs. (9)
3 p.m. (SEC Network) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (7) vs. (10)
9 p.m. (SEC Network) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/10 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
3 p.m. (ESPN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
9 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) vs. (6)/(11)
3/11 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (ESPN)
3 p.m. (ESPN)
3/12 – Finals
1 p.m. (ESPN)
Predicted winner:  Alabama

Southern Conference (March 3-6; Asheville, NC)
3/3 - First Round
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Mercer vs. (9) The Citadel.  Predicted winner:  Mercer
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Chattanooga vs. (10) VMI.  Predicted winner:  Chattanooga
3/4 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Furman vs. (8) Mercer.  Predicted winner:  Furman
2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Western Carolina vs. (5) East Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Western Carolina
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Samford vs. (7) Chattanooga.  Predicted winner:  Samford
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) UNC Greensboro vs. (6) Wofford.  Predicted winner:  UNC Greensboro
3/5 – Semifinals
4 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Furman vs. (4) Western Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Furman
6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Samford vs. (3) UNC Greensboro.  Predicted winner:  UNC Greensboro
3/6 – Finals
7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Furman vs. (3) UNC Greensboro.  Predicted winner:  Furman

Southland (March 5-8; Lake Charles, LA)
3/5 – First Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) vs. (8)
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) vs. (7)
3/6 – Second Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)/(8)
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)/(7)
3/7 – Semifinals
6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. (4)/(5)/(8)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)
3/8 – Finals
5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner:  Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Summit (March 3-7; Sioux Falls, SD)
3/3 - First Round
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Denver vs. (9) North Dakota.  Predicted winner:  Denver
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Kansas City vs. (10) Omaha.  Predicted winner:  Kansas City
Quarterfinals
3/4
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Oral Roberts vs. (8) Denver.  Predicted winner:  Oral Roberts
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) South Dakota State vs. (7) Kansas City.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota State
3/5
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Western Illinois v. (5) St. Thomas*.  Predicted winner:  St. Thomas*
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) North Dakota State vs. (6) South Dakota.  Predicted winner:  North Dakota State
3/6 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Oral Roberts vs. (5) St. Thomas*.  Predicted winner:  Oral Roberts
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) South Dakota State vs. (3) North Dakota State.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota State
3/7 – Finals
9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Oral Roberts vs. (2) South Dakota State.  Predicted winner:  Oral Roberts
*Ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-III.

Sun Belt (February 28, March 2, 4-6; Pensacola, FL)
2/28 – First Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (12) Coastal Carolina vs. (13) Arkansas State.  Predicted winner:  Arkansas State
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (11) Texas State vs. (10) Georgia State.  Predicted winner:  Texas State
3/2 - Second Round
12:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) South Alabama vs. (9) Appalachian State.  Predicted winner:  South Alabama
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) Troy vs. (13) Arkansas State.  Predicted winner:  Troy
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Old Dominion vs. (11) Texas State.  Predicted winner:  Old Dominion
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Georgia Southern vs. (10) Louisiana-Monroe.  Predicted winner:  Georgia Southern
3/4 – Quarterfinals
12:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Southern Mississippi vs. (8) South Alabama.  Predicted winner:  Southern Mississippi
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) James Madison vs. (5) Troy.  Predicted winner:  James Madison
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Marshall vs. (6) Old Dominion.  Predicted winner:  Marshall
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Louisiana vs. (7) Georgia Southern.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana
3/5 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Southern Mississippi vs. (4) James Madison.  Predicted winner:  James Madison
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Louisiana vs. (3) Marshall.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana
3/6 - Finals
7 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Louisiana vs. (4) James Madison.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana

SWAC (March 8-11; Birmingham, AL)
Quarterfinals
3/8
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (8)
3/9
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
3/10 – Semifinals
3 p.m. (ESPN+)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
3/11 – Finals
5:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Predicted winner:  Grambling

WAC (March 7, 9-11; Paradise, NV)
3/7 - First Round
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (9)
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) vs. (12)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) vs. (10)
11 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) vs. (11)
3/9 – Quarterfinals
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)/(12)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
11 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)/(11)
3/10 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) 
11 p.m. (ESPN+) 
3/11 – Finals
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner:  Sam Houston State

West Coast (March 2-4, 6-7; Paradise, NV)
3/2 – First Round
9 p.m. (WCC Network) (8) Portland vs. (9) San Diego.  Predicted winner:  Portland
11:30 p.m. (WCC Network) (7) Pacific vs. (10) Pepperdine.  Predicted winner:  Pacific
3/3 - Second Round
9 p.m. (WCC Network) (5) BYU vs. (8) Portland.  Predicted winner:  BYU
11:30 p.m. (WCC Network) (6) San Francisco vs. (7) Pacific.  Predicted winner:  San Francisco
3/4 – Third Round
10 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Loyola Marymount vs. (5) BYU.  Predicted winner:  Loyola Marymount
12:30 a.m. (ESPN2) (3) Santa Clara vs. (6) San Francisco.  Predicted winner:  San Francisco
3/6 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) St. Mary's vs. (4) Loyola Marymount.  Predicted winner:  St. Mary's
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Gonzaga vs. (6) San Francisco.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga
3/7 – Finals
9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) St. Mary's vs. (2) Gonzaga.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

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