Updated Championship Week Predictions: "Getting Better"

Today's song is The Beatles' "Getting Better."  This March is already proving to be more unpredictable -- and, therefore, in my mind, better -- than last year, where all but five conference tournaments were won by 1-seeds or 2-seeds (17 1-seeds and 9 2-seeds won) -- while only three schools seeded four or lower won.  By contrast, of the seven conference tournaments that have already finished, four 1-seeds (High Point, Big South; North Dakota State, Summit; Tennessee State, OVC; Troy, Sun Belt), one 3-seed (Queens, A-Sun), two 6-seeds (Furman, SoCon; Northern Iowa, MVC) have won their conference tournaments.

And in the 8 other conference tournaments that are already underway where the 1-seed and 2-seed have played, two 1-seeds (Navy, Patriot; UNC Wilmington, CAA) and six 2-seeds (Central Connecticut State, NEC; Charleston, CAA; Montana State, Big Sky; Robert Morris, Horizon; St. Mary's, WCC, St. Peter's, MAAC) lost before their conference tournament championship games.

Today is when things really start to kick into high gear, as several of the high-major conference tournaments begin.  All in all, from tip off of the Baylor/Arizona State game in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament at 12:30 p.m. ET to the end of the Big Sky semifinal between Eastern Washington and Idaho that starts at 11:30 p.m. ET, we have 24 conference tournament over about 14 hours.

Here's what happened yesterday and what we have to look forward to today:

• In the SoCon title game, 6-seed Furman capped its Cinderella run through the SoCon Tournament with a 76-61 win over 1-seed East Tennessee State.  The Paladins will be playing in their 8th NCAA Tournament and first since 2023, when they upset Virginia in the first round as a 13-seed.
• In the Sun Belt championship, top seed Troy crushed 10-seed Georgia Southern's hopes with a 77-61 win, preventing the Eagles from winning six games in six days.  The Trojans will be playing in their 4th NCAA Tournament and second in a row, giving them as many NCAA Tournament appearances in the last two seasons as they had in their first 24 seasons since moving up from Division II.
• In the CAA semis, 3-seed Hofstra hit a three with 0.5 seconds left to beat 7-seed Towson in OT, 68-65, and 4-seed Monmouth pulled away from 9-seed Campbell for a 74-64 win, which means for the 33rd year in a row, there will be no Fighting Camels in the NCAA Tournament.  When they meet in tonight's championship game, the Pride will be playing for their 5th NCAA Tournament bid and first since 2001, and the Hawks will be playing for their 5th bid and first since 2006.
• In the Horizon semis, 1-seed Wright State topped the century mark, beating 7-seed Northern Kentucky, 103-90, and 3-seed Detroit Mercy took down 2-seed Robert Morris, 70-64.  When they play each other in tonight's title game, the Raiders will be seeking their 5th trip to the Big Dance and first since 2022, while the Titans will be seeking their 7th trip and first since 2012.
• In the WCC semifinals, top seed Gonzaga beat 4-seed Oregon State, 65-56, and 3-seed Santa Clara upset 2-seed St. Mary's, 76-71, giving the Broncos' NCAA Tournament hopes a major boost.  When they face off in tonight's title game, the Bulldogs are a lock for the NCAA Tournament and will be playing in their 28th overall and 27th in a row, while the Broncos are playing for their 12th NCAA Tournament and first since 1996, when Steve Nash was a senior.  This is only the 7th time since 2004 that the WCC Tournament title game hasn't included both Gonzaga and St. Mary's.  The Broncos haven't played in the WCC Tournament title game since 2007, and they're looking to become the first team other than Gonzaga and St. Mary's to win the WCC Tournament since San Diego in 2008.  Of course, with Gonzaga moving to the re-formed Pac-12 next year, this will be the last chance the Bulldogs have to win the WCC Tournament title (for the 23rd time).
• In the second half of the Big Sky quarterfinals, 3-seed Eastern Washington dropped 6-seed Weber State, 84-79, and 4-seed Montana outlasted 5-seed Northern Colorado, 95-89, to advance to tonight's semifinals.
• In the Southland Second Round (effectively their quarterfinals), 3-seed UT Rio Grande Valley trounced 6-seed Nicholls, 86-68, and 4-seed Texas A&M Corpus Christi beat 5-seed New Orleans, 74-61, to advance to tonight's semifinals.
• In the First Round of the SWAC, 9-seed Grambling State crushed 12-seed Mississippi Valley State, 77-52, and 11-seed Alcorn State topped 10-seed Alabama State, 77-65, to advance to today's second round.
• 4 conference tournaments start today, and 13 conference tournaments have games today.
• No conference tournaments have quarterfinals today, 3 conference tournaments have semifinals today (America East, Big Sky, Southland), and 5 conference tournaments have championship games today (CAA, Horizon, MAAC, NEC, WCC).
• Here are the teams that have never been to the NCAA Tournament (not including teams who are ineligible for this year's NCAA Tournament) that are still alive:
• America East:  3-seed NJIT, 4-seed UMass Lowell
• MAAC:  1-seed Merrimack
• MEAC:  6-seed Maryland Eastern Shore
• Southland:  3-seed Texas Rio Grande Valley
• SWAC:  1-seed Bethune-Cookman
• WAC:  1-seed Utah Valley, 2-seed Cal Baptist, 3-seed Utah Tech, 7-seed Tarleton State
• Bubble teams that won yesterday (in conference tournaments):  Santa Clara
• Bubble teams that lost yesterday (in conference tournaments):  None
• Bubble teams that have not yet started conference tournaments (any team projected as a 9-seed or lower that's not expected to be its conference's automatic qualifier or would be a bubble team if it doesn't win its conference tournament):  Auburn, Boise State, California, Cincinnati, Iowa, Miami (OH), Missouri, NC State, New Mexico, Ohio State, Oklahoma, San Diego State, Seton Hall, SMU, South Florida, Stanford, St. Louis, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, UCF, UCLA, VCU, Virginia Tech

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

-ACC

-Big 12

-Big Ten

-Conference USA

Tournaments with games today

-ACC

-America East

-Big 12

-Big Sky

-Big Ten

-Coastal

-Conference USA

-Horizon

-MAAC

-NEC

-Southland

-SWAC

-West Coast

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern)

-Coastal (7 p.m.; CBSSN): (3) Hofstra vs. (4) Monmouth

-Horizon (7 p.m.; ESPN): (1) Wright State vs. (3) Detroit Mercy

-NEC (7 p.m.; ESPN2):  (3) Mercyhurst at (1) LIU

-MAAC (9 p.m.; ESPN2): (1) Merrimack vs. (3) Siena

-West Coast (9 p.m.; ESPN): (1) Gonzaga vs. (3) Santa Clara

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 15)

-ACC (March 14)

-America East (March 14)

-Atlantic 10 (March 15)

-Atlantic Sun:  Queens (1)

-Big 12 (March 14)

-Big East (March 14)

-Big Sky (March 11)

-Big South:  High Point (2; 2025)

-Big Ten (March 15)

-Big West (March 14)

-Coastal (March 10)

-Conference USA (March 14)

-Horizon (March 10)

-Ivy League (March 15)

-MAAC (March 10)

-MAC (March 14)

-MEAC (March 14)

-Missouri Valley:  Northern Iowa (9; 2016)

-Mountain West (March 14)

-Northeast Conference:  LIU (8; 2018)

-Ohio Valley:  Tennessee State (3; 1994)

-Patriot League (March 11)

-SEC (March 15)

-Southern Conference:  Furman (8; 2023)

-Southland (March 11)

-Summit:  North Dakota State (5; 2019)

-Sun Belt:  Troy (4; 2025)

-SWAC (March 14)

-WAC (March 14)

-West Coast (March 10)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern)

AAC (March 11-15; Birmingham)

3/11 – First Round

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) Memphis vs. (9) Tulane.  Predicted winner:  Tulane

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN+) (7) FAU vs. (10) Temple.  Predicted winner:  FAU

3/12 – Second Round

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (5) Charlotte vs. (9) Tulane.  Predicted winner:  Tulane

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (6) North Texas vs. (7) FAU.  Predicted winner:  North Texas

3/13 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) UAB vs. (9) Tulane.  Predicted winner:  UAB

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) Tulsa vs. (6) North Texas.  Predicted winner:  Tulsa

3/14 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Florida vs. (4) UAB.  Predicted winner:  South Florida

5:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Wichita State vs. (3) Tulsa.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State

3/15 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN) (1) South Florida vs. (2) Wichita State.  Predicted winner:  Wichita State

ACC (March 10-14; Charlotte)

3/10 – First Round

2 p.m. p.m. (ACCN) (10) Stanford vs. (15) Pittsburgh.  Predicted winner:  Stanford

4:30 p.m. (ACCN) (11) SMU vs. (14) Syracuse.  Predicted winner:  SMU

7 p.m. (ACCN) (12) Virginia Tech vs. (13) Wake Forest.  Predicted winner:  Virginia Tech

3/11 – Second Round

12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (7) NC State vs. (10) Stanford.  Predicted winner:  NC State

2:30 p.m. (ESPN) (6) Louisville vs. (11) SMU. Predicted winner:  Louisville

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (8) Florida State vs. (9) California.  Predicted winner:  California

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN2) (5) Clemson vs. (12) Virginia Tech.  Predicted winner:  Clemson

3/12 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Virginia vs. (7) NC State.  Predicted winner:  Virginia

2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) Miami (FL) vs. (6) Louisville.  Predicted winner:  Louisville

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Duke vs. (9) California.  Predicted winner:  Duke

9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) North Carolina vs. (5) Clemson.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina

3/13 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Virginia vs. (6) Louisville.  Predicted winner:  Louisville

9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Duke vs. (4) North Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Duke

3/14 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Duke vs. (6) Louisville.  Predicted winner:  Duke

America East (March 7, 10, 14; campus of higher seed)

3/10 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) UMass Lowell at (1) UMBC.  Predicted winner:  UMBC

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) NJIT at (2) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Vermont

3/14 – Finals

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

Atlantic 10 (March 11-15; Pittsburgh)

3/11 – First Round

11:30 a.m. (USA) (12) LaSalle vs. (13) St. Bonaventure.  Predicted winner:  St. Bonaventure

2 p.m. (USA) (11) Richmond vs. (14) Loyola (IL).  Predicted winner:  Richmond

3/12 – Second Round

11:30 a.m. (USA) (8) Fordham vs. (9) George Washington.  Predicted winner:  Fordham

2 p.m. (USA) (5) George Mason vs. (13) St. Bonaventure.  Predicted winner:  George Mason

5 p.m. (USA) (7) Duquesne vs. (10) Rhode Island.  Predicted winner:  Duquesne

7:30 p.m. (USA) (6) Davidson vs. (11) Richmond.  Predicted winner:  Davidson

3/13 – Quarterfinals

11:30 a.m. (USA) (1) St. Louis vs. (8) Fordham.  Predicted winner:  St. Louis

2 p.m. (USA) (4) Dayton vs. (5) George Mason.  Predicted winner:  George Mason

5 p.m. (USA) (2) VCU vs. (7) Duquesne.  Predicted winner:  VCU

7:30 p.m. (CNBC) (3) St. Joseph's vs. (6) Davidson.  Predicted winner:  St. Joseph's

3/14 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) St. Louis vs. (5) George Mason.  Predicted winner:  St. Louis

3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) VCU vs. (3) St. Joseph's.  Predicted winner:  VCU

3/15 – Finals

1 p.m. (CBS) (1) St. Louis vs. (2) VCU.  Predicted winner:  St. Louis

Big 12 (March 10-14; Kansas City)

3/10 – First Round

12:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (12) Arizona State vs. (13) Baylor.  Predicted winner:  Arizona State

3 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) Cincinnati vs. (16) Utah.  Predicted winner:  Cincinnati

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) BYU vs. (15) Kansas State.  Predicted winner:  BYU

9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (11) Colorado vs. (14) Oklahoma State.  Predicted winner:  Oklahoma State

3/11 – Second Round

12:30 p.m. (ESPN) (5) Iowa State vs. (12) Arizona State.  Predicted winner:  Iowa State

3 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) UCF vs. (9) Cincinnati.  Predicted winner:  UCF

7 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) West Virginia vs. (10) BYU.  Predicted winner:  BYU

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) TCU vs. (14) Oklahoma State.  Predicted winner:  TCU

3/12 – Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Texas Tech vs. (5) Iowa State.  Predicted winner:  Iowa State

3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Arizona vs. (9) Cincinnati.  Predicted winner:  Arizona

7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Houston vs. (10) BYU.  Predicted winner:  Houston

9:30 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Kansas vs. (6) TCU.  Predicted winner:  Kansas

3/13 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Arizona vs. (5) Iowa State.  Predicted winner:  Iowa State

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Houston vs. (3) Kansas.  Predicted winner:  Houston

3/14 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Houston vs. (5) Iowa State.  Predicted winner:  Houston

Big East (March 11-14; New York)

3/11 – First Round

4 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (8) Butler vs. (9) Providence.  Predicted winner:  Butler

6:30 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (7) Marquette vs. (10) Xavier.  Predicted winner:  Marquette

9 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (6) DePaul vs. (11) Georgetown.  Predicted winner:  DePaul

3/12 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (1) St. John's vs. (8) Butler.  Predicted winner:  St. John's

2:30 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (4) Seton Hall vs. (5) Creighton.  Predicted winner:  Seton Hall

7 p.m. (FS1) (2) UConn vs. (7) Marquette.  Predicted winner:  UConn

9:30 p.m. (FS1) (3) Villanova vs. (6) DePaul.  Predicted winner:  Villanova

3/13 – Semifinals

5:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) St. John's vs. (4) Seton Hall.  Predicted winner:  St. John's

8 p.m. (FS1) (2) UConn vs. (3) Villanova.  Predicted winner:  UConn

3/14 – Finals

6:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) St. John's v. (2) UConn.  Predicted winner:  UConn

Big Sky (March 7-11; Boise)

Quarterfinals

3/10 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Portland State vs. (4) Montana.  Predicted winner:  Portland State

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) Eastern Washington vs. (7) Idaho.  Predicted winner:  Eastern Washington

3/11 – Finals

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Portland State vs. (3) Eastern Washington.  Predicted winner:  Portland State

Big Ten (March 10-15; Chicago)

3/10 – First Round

5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) (16) Oregon vs. (17) Maryland.  Predicted winner:  Oregon

7:30 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) (15) Northwestern vs. (18) Penn State.  Predicted winner:  Northwestern

3/11 – Second Round

12 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) (9) Iowa vs. (16) Oregon.  Predicted winner:  Iowa

2:30 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) (12) Washington vs. (13) USC.  Predicted winner:  USC

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (10) Indiana vs. (15) Northwestern.  Predicted winner:  Indiana

9 p.m. (BTN) (11) Minnesota vs. (14) Rutgers.  Predicted winner:  Minnesota

3/12 -Third Round

12 p.m. (BTN) (8) Ohio State vs. (9) Iowa.  Predicted winner:  Iowa

2:30 p.m. (BTN) (5) Wisconsin vs. (13) USC.  Predicted winner:  Wisconsin

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (7) Purdue vs. (10) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Indiana

9 p.m. (BTN) (6) UCLA vs. (11) Minnesota.  Predicted winner:  UCLA

3/13 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (BTN) (1) Michigan vs. (9) Iowa.  Predicted winner:  Michigan

2:30 p.m. (BTN) (4) Illinois vs. (5) Wisconsin.  Predicted winner:  Illinois

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) Nebraska vs. (10) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Indiana

9 p.m. (BTN) (3) Michigan State vs. (6) UCLA.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

3/14 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBS) (1) Michigan vs. (4) Illinois.  Predicted winner:  Illinois

3:30 p.m. (CBS) (3) Michigan State vs. (10) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Indiana

3/15 – Finals

3:30 p.m. (CBS) (4) Illinois vs. (10) Indiana.  Predicted winner:  Indiana

Big West (March 11-14; Henderson, NV)

3/11 - First Round

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) UC San Diego vs. (8) Cal Poly.  Predicted winner:  UC San Diego

11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) UC Davis vs. (7) UC Santa Barbara.  Predicted winner:  UC Santa Barbara

3/12 – Quarterfinals

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Cal State Fullerton vs. (7) UC Santa Barbara.  Predicted winner:  UC Santa Barbara

11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Cal State Northridge vs. (5) UC San Diego.  Predicted winner:  UC San Diego

3/13 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) UC Irvine vs. (5) UC San Diego.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Hawaii vs. (7) UC Santa Barbara.  Predicted winner:  Hawaii

3/14 – Finals

10 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) UC Irvine vs. (2) Hawaii.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine

CAA (March 6-10; Washington, DC)

3/10 – Finals

7 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Hofstra vs. (4) Monmouth.  Predicted winner:  Hofstra

Conference USA (March 10-14; Huntsville, AL)

3/10 - First Round

6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) FIU vs. (9) Missouri State.  Predicted winner:  FIU

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Jacksonville State vs. (10) New Mexico State.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico State

Quarterfinals

3/11

6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Liberty vs. (8) FIU.  Predicted winner:  Liberty

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Sam Houston vs. (10) New Mexico State.  Predicted winner:  Sam Houston

3/12

6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Louisiana Tech vs. (5) Middle Tennessee State.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Western Kentucky vs. (6) Kennesaw State.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky

3/13 – Semifinals

12:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Liberty vs. (4) Louisiana Tech.  Predicted winner:  Liberty

3 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Sam Houston vs. (3) Western Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Western Kentucky

3/14 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Liberty vs. (3) Western Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Liberty

Horizon (March 2-4, 8-10; first round at campus sites of higher seed and remaining rounds in Indianapolis)

3/10 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Wright State vs. (3) Detroit Mercy.  Predicted winner:  Wright State

Ivy League (March 14-15; Ithaca, NY)

3/14 - Semifinals

11 a.m. (ESPNU) (1) Yale vs. (4) Cornell.  Predicted winner:  Yale

2 p.m. (ESPNews) (2) Harvard vs. (3) Penn.  Predicted winner:  Harvard

3/15 - Finals

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Yale vs. (2) Harvard.  Predicted winner:  Yale

MAAC (March 5-8, 10; Atlantic City, NJ)

3/10 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Merrimack vs. (3) Siena.  Predicted winner:  Merrimack

MAC (March 12-14; Cleveland)

3/12 – Quarterfinals

11 a.m. (ESPN+) (1) Miami (OH) vs. (8) UMass.  Predicted winner:  Miami (OH)

1:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Toledo vs. (5) Bowling Green.  Predicted winner:  Toledo

4:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Akron vs. (7) Buffalo.  Predicted winner:  Akron

6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Kent State vs. (6) Ohio.  Predicted winner:  Kent State

3/13 – Semifinals

5 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Miami (OH) vs. (4) Toledo.  Predicted winner:  Miami (OH)

7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Akron vs. (3) Kent State.  Predicted winner:  Akron

3/14 – Finals

8 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Miami (OH) vs. (2) Akron.  Predicted winner:  Miami (OH)

MEAC (March 11-14; Norfolk, VA)

Quarterfinals

3/11

6 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Morgan State vs. (7) Delaware State.  Predicted winner:  Morgan State

3/12

6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Norfolk State vs. (5) South Carolina State.  Predicted winner:  Norfolk State

8 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) North Carolina Central vs. (6) Maryland Eastern Shore.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central

3/13 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Howard vs. (4) Norfolk State.  Predicted winner:  Howard

8 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Morgan State vs. (3) North Carolina Central.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central

3/14 – Final

1:00 p.m. (TBD) (1) Howard vs. (3) North Carolina Central.  Predicted winner:  Howard

Mountain West (March 11-14; Paradise, NV)

3/11 – First Round

3 p.m. (MWN) (8) UNLV vs. (9) Wyoming.  Predicted winner:  Wyoming

5:30 p.m. (MWN) (5) Nevada vs (12) Air Force.  Predicted winner:  Nevada

9 p.m. (MWN) (7) Colorado State vs. (10) Fresno State.  Predicted winner:  Colorado State

11:30 p.m. (MWN) (6) Boise State vs. (11) San Jose State.  Predicted winner:  Boise State

3/12 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Utah State vs. (9) Wyoming.  Predicted winner:  Utah State

5:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) Grand Canyon vs. (5) Nevada.  Predicted winner:  Nevada

9 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) San Diego State vs. (7) Colorado State.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) New Mexico vs. (6) Boise State.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico

3/13 – Semifinals

9:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Utah State vs. (5) Nevada.  Predicted winner:  Utah State

11:59 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) San Diego State vs. (3) New Mexico.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State

3/14 – Finals

6 p.m. (CBS) (1) Utah State vs. (2) San Diego State.  Predicted winner:  Utah State

NEC (March 4, 7, 10; campus of higher seed)

3/10 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) Mercyhurst* at (1) LIU.  Predicted winner:  LIU

*LIU has clinched the automatic bid, as Mercyhurst is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-II.

Patriot League (March 3, 5, 8, 11; campus of higher seed)

3/11 – Finals

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

SEC (March 11-15; Nashville)

3/11 – First Round

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (9) Kentucky vs. (16) LSU.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky

3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (12) Auburn vs. (13) Mississippi State.  Predicted winner:  Auburn

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (10) Texas vs. (15) Mississippi.  Predicted winner:  Texas

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (11) Oklahoma vs. (14) South Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Oklahoma

3/12 – Second Round

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (8) Missouri vs. (9) Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky

3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (5) Tennessee vs. (12) Auburn.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (7) Georgia vs. (10) Texas.  Predicted winner:  Texas

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (6) Texas A&M vs. (11) Oklahoma.  Predicted winner:  Texas A&M

3/13 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Florida vs. (9) Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Florida

3:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) Vanderbilt vs. (5) Tennessee.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) Alabama vs. (10) Texas.  Predicted winner:  Alabama

9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) Arkansas vs. (6) Texas A&M.  Predicted winner:  Arkansas

3/14 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Florida vs. (5) Tennessee.  Predicted winner:  Tennessee

3:30 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Alabama vs. (3) Arkansas.  Predicted winner:  Alabama

3/15 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Alabama vs. (5) Tennessee.  Predicted winner:  Alabama

Southland (March 8-11; Lake Charles, LA)

3/10 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (4) Texas A&M Corpus Christi.  Predicted winner:  Stephen F. Austin

9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) McNeese vs. (3) UT Rio Grande Valley.  Predicted winner:  McNeese

3/11 – Finals

5 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (2) McNeese.  Predicted winner:  McNeese

SWAC (March 9-14; Atlanta)

3/10 - Second Round

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Prairie View A&M vs. (11) Alcorn State.  Predicted winner:  Prairie View A&M

8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Jackson State vs. (9) Grambling State.  Predicted winner:  Grambling State

Quarterfinals

3/11

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Bethune-Cookman vs. (8) Prairie View A&M.  Predicted winner:  Bethune-Cookman

8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Florida A&M vs. (9) Grambling State.  Predicted winner:  Florida A&M

3/12

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Texas Southern vs. (5) Alabama A&M.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Southern vs. (6) Arkansas-Pine Bluff.  Predicted winner:  Southern

3/13 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Bethune-Cookman vs. (4) Texas Southern.  Predicted winner:  Bethune-Cookman

8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Florida A&M vs. (3) Southern.  Predicted winner:  Florida A&M

3/14 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (TBD) (1) Bethune-Cookman vs. (2) Florida A&M.  Predicted winner:  Bethune-Cookman

WAC (March 11-14; Paradise, NV)

3/11 - First Round

8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Abilene Christian vs. (7) Tarleton.  Predicted winner:  Tarleton

3/12 - Quarterfinals

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) UT Arlington vs. (5) Southern Utah.  Predicted winner:  UT Arlington

11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Utah Tech vs. (7) Tarleton.  Predicted winner:  Utah Tech

3/13 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Utah Valley vs. (4) UT Arlington.  Predicted winner:  Utah Valley

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPNU) (2) Cal Baptist vs. (3) Utah Tech.  Predicted winner:  Cal Baptist

3/14 – Finals

11:59 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Utah Valley vs. (2) Cal Baptist.  Predicted winner:  Utah Valley

West Coast (March 5-10; Paradise, NV)

3/10 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (3) Santa Clara.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga