Updated Championship Week Predictions

Here are the highlights from yesterday's Championship Week action:

In the Ivy League, the Yale Bulldogs beat Columbia, clinching the Ivy League title and their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1962.  Do you remember like two years before The Beatles were on Ed Sullivan?  Neither do I.  But some old rich bastards do because that's when they were in college at Yale.

In the OVC, 8-seed Austin Peay upset 2-seed Tennessee-Martin to make their Cinderella run official.  If you watched the game, you know it's an emotional win for head coach Dave Loos because his 5-year-old granddaughter just had surgery for kidney cancer (I think), which makes his ability to coach a team to a championship even that much more impressive.

In the MVC, top-seeded Wichita State fell to 4-seed Northern Iowa, knocking a bubble team out of the NCAA Tournament, while 2-seed Evansville beat 6-seed Indiana State.  The Panthers are going for their 8th NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row, while the Purple Aces -- who are, in fact, the defending CIT champions -- will be playing for their 6th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 1999.

In the Big South, top seed High Point succumbed to the inimitable force known as UNC-Asheville, and in the other semi, 2-seed Withrop beat 6-seed Gardner-Webb.  The Bulldogs will be playing for their 4th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2012, and the Eagles are going for their 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2010.

In the NEC, the top two seeds, Wagner and Farleigh Dickinson, respectively, advanced to the final.  The Seahawks are playing for their 2nd ever NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2003, while the Knights from Hackensack, New Jersey are playing for their 5th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2005.

Nothing too exciting happened in the CAA, Horizon, MAAC, SoCon, Summit, or WCC.

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

-Atlantic Sun
-Big South
-Colonial
-Horizon League
-MAAC
-Missouri Valley
-Patriot League
-Southern Conference
-Summit League

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern)

-Missouri Valley:  (4) Northern Iowa vs. (2) Evansville (2 p.m.; CBS) 
-Big South:  (4) UNC-Asheville vs. (2) Winthrop (2:30 p.m.; ESPN2)

-Atlantic Sun:  (7) Stetson at (4) Florida Gulf Coast (7 p.m.; ESPN2) (Note:  Stetson is ineligible for postseason play, so if Stetson wins, regular season champ North Florida will win the Atlantic Sun's automatic bid)

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

-Ivy League:  Yale (4)
-OVC:  Austin Peay (7)

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 10-13; Orlando)

3/10 – First Round

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

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

3/11 – Quarterfinals

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

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

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

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

3/12 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN2)

5 p.m. (ESPN2)

3/13 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Tulsa

ACC (March 8-12; Washington, D.C.)

3/8 – First Round

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (12) NC State vs. (13) Wake Forest

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (11) vs. (14) Boston College

3/9 – Second Round

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

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

7 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 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)

3/11 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/12 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Virginia

America East (March 2, 7, 12; campus of higher seeds)

3/7 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) Hartford at (1) Stony Brook.  Predicted winner:  Stony Brook

7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) New Hampshire at (3) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

3/12 – Finals

11 a.m. (ESPN2) (3) Vermont at (1) Stony Brook.  Predicted winner:  Stony Brook

Atlantic 10 (March 9-13; Brooklyn)

3/9 – First Round

6:30 p.m. (A-10 Network) (12) vs. (13)

9 p.m. (A-10 Network) (11) vs. (14)

3/10– Second Round

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

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

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

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

3/11 – Quarterfinals

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

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

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

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

3/12 – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

4 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/13 – Finals

12:30 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Dayton

Atlantic Sun (March 1, 3, 6; campus of higher seed)

3/6 – Finals

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) Stetson at (4) Florida Gulf Coast.  Predicted winner:  Florida Gulf Coast

Big 12 (March 9-12; Kansas City)

3/9 – First Round

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

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

3/10 – 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)

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) vs. (6)

3/11 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/12 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Oklahoma

Big East (March 9-12; New York)

3/9 – First Round

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

9:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (7) vs. (10) St. John's

3/10 – 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) Xavier vs. (7)/(10)

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

3/11 – Semifinals

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

9 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

3/12 – Finals

5:30 p.m. (Fox)

Predicted winner:  Villanova

Big Sky (March 8, 10-12; Reno)

3/8 – First Round

3:05 p.m. (TBD) (8) vs. (9)

5:35 p.m. (TBD) (5) vs. (12)

8:35 p.m. (TBD) (7) vs. (10)

11:05 p.m. (TBD) (6) vs. (11)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

3:05 p.m. (TBD) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

5:35 p.m. (TBD) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

8:35 p.m. (TBD) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:05 p.m. (TBD) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/11 – Semifinals

8:35 p.m. (TBD)

11:05 p.m. (TBD)

3/12 – Finals

8:45 p.m. (TBD)

Predicted winner:  Weber State

Big South (March 3-6; Buies Creek, NC)

3/6 – Finals

2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) UNC-Asheville vs. (2) Winthrop.  Predicted winner:  Winthrop

Big Ten (March 9-13; Indianapolis)

3/9 – First Round

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

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

3/10 – Second Round

12 p.m. (BTN) (8) Michigan 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)

3/11 – Quarterfinals

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

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

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

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

3/12 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBS)

3:30 p.m. (CBS)

3/13 – Finals

3 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Indiana

Big West (March 10-12; Anaheim)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

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

3/11 – Semifinals

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

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

3/12 – Finals

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Hawaii

Colonial Athletic Association (March 4-7; Baltimore)

3/6 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (NBCSN) (1) Hofstra vs. (5) William and Mary.  Predicted winner:  Hofstra

3:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (2) UNC Wilmington vs. (6) Northeastern.  Predicted winner:  UNC Wilmington

3/7 – Finals

7 p.m. (NBCSN) (1) Hofstra vs. (2) UNC Wilmington.  Predicted winner:  UNC Wilmington

Conference USA (March 8-12; Birmingham, AL)

3/8 – First Round

5 p.m. (ASN) (12) vs. (13) UTSA

3/9 – Second Round

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

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

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

9:30 p.m. (ASN) (6) vs. (11)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

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

3:30 p.m. (ASN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)

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

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

3/11 – Semifinals

4 p.m. (CBSSN)

6:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/12 – Finals

2:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

Predicted winner:  UAB

Horizon (March 5-8; Detroit)

3/6 – Second Round

1 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Green Bay vs. (5) Milwaukee.  Predicted winner:  Milwaukee

3:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Wright State vs. (6) Detroit.  Predicted winner:  Wright State

3/7 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Valparaiso vs. (5) Milwaukee.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

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

3/8 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Valparaiso vs. (2) Oakland.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

MAAC (March 3-7; Albany, NY)

3/6 – Semifinals

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

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Iona vs. (3) Siena.  Predicted winner:  Siena

3/7 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Monmouth vs. (3) Siena.  Predicted winner:  Monmouth

MAC (March 7, 10-12; first round at campus of higher seed and remaining rounds in Cleveland)

3/9 – First Round

TBD (12) Bowling Green at (5) Kent State.  Predicted winner:  Kent State

TBD (9) Toledo at (8) Eastern Michigan.  Predicted winner:  Eastern Michigan

TBD (10) Western Michigan at (7) Northern Illinois.  Predicted winner:  Northern Illinois
TBD (11) Miami (OH) at (6) Ball State.  Predicted winner:  Ball State

3/10 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Time Warner Sportschannel/BCSN/ESPN3) (1) Akron vs. (8) Eastern Michigan.  Predicted winner:  Akron

2:30 p.m. (Time Warner Sportschannel/BCSN/ESPN3) (4) Central Michigan vs. (5) Kent State.  Predicted winner:  Kent State

6:30 p.m. (Time Warner Sportschannel/BCSN/ESPN3 ) (2) Ohio vs. (7) Northern Illinois.  Predicted winner:  Ohio

9 p.m. (Time Warner Sportschannel/BCSN/ESPN3) (3) Buffalo vs. (6) Ball State.  Predicted winner:  Ball State

3/11 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (Time Warner Sportschannel/BCSN/ESPN3) (1) Akron vs. (5) Kent State.  Predicted winner:  

9 p.m. (Time Warner Sportschannel/BCSN/ESPN3) (2) Ohio vs. (6) Ball State.  Predicted winner:  Ball State

3/12 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Akron vs. (6) Ball State.  Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 7-12; Norfolk, VA)

First Round

3/7

6:30 p.m. (5) Savannah State vs. (12) Delaware State.  Predicted winner:  Savannah State

9 p.m. (6) North Carolina A&T vs. (11) Coppin State.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina A&T

3/8

6 p.m. (8) Maryland-Eastern Shore vs. (9) Morgan State.  Predicted winner:  Maryland-Eastern Shore

8 p.m. (7) North Carolina Central vs. (10) Howard.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central

Quarterfinals

3/9

6 p.m. (1) Hampton vs. (8) Maryland-Eastern Shore.  Predicted winner:  Hampton

8 p.m. (2) Norfolk State vs. (7) North Carolina Central.  Predicted winner:  Norfolk State

3/10

6 p.m. (3) South Carolina State vs. (6) North Carolina A&T.  Predicted winner:  South Carolina State 

8 p.m. (4) Bethune-Cookman vs. (5) Savannah State.  Predicted winner:  Savannah State

3/11 – Semifinals

6:00 p.m. (1) Hampton vs. (5) Savannah State.  Predicted winner:  Hampton

8:00 p.m. (2) Norfolk State vs. (3) South Carolina State.  Predicted winner:  South Carolina State

3/12 – Final

1:00 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Hampton vs. (3) South Carolina State.  Predicted winner:  Hampton

Missouri Valley (March 3-6; St. Louis)

3/6 – Finals

2 p.m. (CBS) (4) Northern Iowa vs. (2) Evansville.  Predicted winner:  Evansville

Mountain West (March 9-12; Las Vegas)

3/9 – First Round

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

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

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

3/10 – 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)

3/11 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (CBSSN)

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/12 – Finals

6 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  San Diego State

Northeast Conference (March 2, 5, 8; campus of higher seed)

3/8 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Farleigh Dickinson at (1) Wagner.  Predicted winner:  Wagner

Pac-12 (March 9-12; Las Vegas)

3/9– First Round

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

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

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

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

3/10 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) Oregon 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. (FS1) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/11 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

11:30 p.m. (FS1)

3/12 – Finals

11 p.m. (FS1)

Predicted winner:  Oregon

Patriot League (March 1, 3, 6, 9; campus of higher seed)

3/6 – Semifinals

12 p.m. (CBSSN) (9) Holy Cross at (4) Army.  Predicted winner:  Army

2 p.m. (CBSSN) (6) American at (2) Lehigh.  Predicted winner:  Lehigh

3/9 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) Army at (2) Lehigh.  Predicted winner:  Lehigh

SEC (March 9-13; Nashville)

3/9 – First Round

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

3/10 – 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)

3/11 – Quarterfinals

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

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

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

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

3/12 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

3 p.m. (ESPN)

3/13 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Kentucky

Southern Conference (March 4-7; Asheville, NC)

3/6 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Chattanooga vs. (5) Western Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Chattanooga

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) ETSU vs. (3) Furman.  Predicted winner:  ETSU

3/7 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Chattanooga vs. (2) ETSU.  Predicted winner:  Chattanooga

Southland (March 9-13; Katy, TX)

3/9 – First Round

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

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

3/10 – Second Round

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

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

3/11 – Semifinals

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

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Texas A&M-CCvs. (3)/(6)/(7)

3/12 – Finals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Stephen F. Austin

Summit (March 5-8; Sioux Falls, SD)

3/6 - Quarterfinals

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

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

3/7 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (1) IPFW vs. (5) North Dakota State.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (2) South Dakota State vs. (3) Nebraska-Omaha.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota State

3/8 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) IPFW vs. (2) South Dakota State.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

Sun Belt (March 10-13; New Orleans)

3/10 – First Round

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

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

3/11 – Second Round

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

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

3/12 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Arkansas-Little Rock vs. (4)/(5)/(8)

4:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)

3/13 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Arkansas-Little Rock

SWAC (March 8-12; Houston)

3/8 – First Round

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

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

Quarterfinals

3/9

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

9:30 p.m. (1) Texas Southern vs. (8)/(9)

3/10

3:30 p.m. (3) vs. (6)

9:30 p.m. (4) vs. (5) Alabama State

3/11 – Semifinals

3:30 p.m.

9:30 p.m.

3/12 – Finals

6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

WAC (March 10-12; Las Vegas)

3/10 – Quarterfinals

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

7:30 p.m. (2) vs. (7)

10 p.m. (3) vs. (6)

3/11 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (1) New Mexico State vs. (4)/(5)

11:30 p.m.

3/12 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  New Mexico State

West Coast (March 4-5, 7-8; Las Vegas)

3/7 – Semifinals

9 p.m. or 11:30 p.m. (ESPN) (1) St. Mary's vs. (4) Pepperdine.  Predicted winner:  St. Mary's

9 p.m. or 11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Gonzaga vs. (3) BYU.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

3/8 - Finals

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