Mascot Fight Bracket

Selection Sunday was yesterday, and the field for this year's NCAA Tournament has been announced.  No one is safe.  Tomorrow, I will give you my thoughts on the teams to help you win your pool, but today, it's all about the mascots.

As I've done in years past, today I'm going to post the mascot fight bracket.  Inspired by the 6- or 7-year-old son of a former co-worker, who filled out his bracket one year based solely on which mascot would win in a fight and ended up with an unwinnable NC State vs. Nevada –- Wolfpack vs. Wolf Pack -– matchup, every year I fill out a bracket on ESPN (not for money, of course) entitled "Mascot Fight."  Here is what it looks like this year, with explanations of my brilliant and sometimes contradictory reasoning.  (For the record, last year, my Mascot Fight bracket did correctly predict that Duke would win it all.)

South Region

Play-in game:

(11) Vanderbilt Commodores vs. (11) Wichita State Shockers.  A guy who can drive a boat against two in the pink and one in the stink?  Winner:  Vanderbilt

Round of 64:

(1) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (16) Austin Peay Governors.  A governor doesn't get to be where he or she is without some bird-murdering skills.  Winner:  Austin Peay

(8) Colorado Buffaloes vs. (9) Connecticut Huskies.  Buffaloes trample dogs, for the most part.  Winner:  Colorado

(5) Maryland Terrapins vs. (12) South Dakota State Jackrabbits.  This is your classic tortoise versus hare scenario.  Winner:  Maryland

(4) California Golden Bears vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.  A scantily clad guy meets a bear with blond hair.  And dies.  Winner:  Cal

(6)  Arizona Wildcats vs. Vanderbilt Commodores.  Cats hate water.  Winner:  Vanderbilt

(3) Miami Hurricanes vs. (14) Buffalo Bulls.  I think multiple hurricanes would have no problem disposing of any amount of bovines.  Winner:  Miami

(7)  Iowa Hawkeyes vs. (10) Temple Owls.  One is the eye of a bird, and the other is an entire bird.  Winner:  Temple

(2)  Villanova Wildcats vs. (15) UNC Asheville Bulldogs.  Bulldogs often have back problems, and they snore, so a wildcat should have no problems taking one down.  Winner:  Villanova

Round of 32:

(8) Colorado Buffaloes vs. (16) Austin Peay Governors.  No governor –- not even Blago with his helmet of hair –- can withstand a buffalo stampede.  Winner:  Colorado

(4) California Golden Bears vs. (5) Maryland Terrapins.  No matter how hard he tries, the bear just can't crack the turtle's shell, and he eventually stops trying.  Winner:  Maryland

(3) Miami Hurricanes vs. (11) Vanderbilt Commodores.  Not even the most seasoned commodore can maneuver out of a hurricane.  Winner:  Miami

(2) Villanova Wildcats vs. (10) Temple Owls.  Cats eat birds.  Winner:  Villanova

Sweet 16:

(5) Maryland Terrapins vs. (8) Colorado Buffaloes.  This is a tough one, but again, I think the strength of the turtle's shell cannot be overlooked.  Winner:  Maryland

(2) Villanova Wildcats vs. (3) Miami Hurricanes.  Again, cats hate water.  Combine 100-mph winds with rain and cats, and what you end up with is a fuckton of dead cats.  Winner:  Miami

Elite 8:

(3) Miami Hurricanes vs. (5) Maryland Terrapins.  There's only so much from which a turtle's shell can protect it.  Getting thrown hundreds of feet against palm trees and beach houses is not one of those things.  Winner:  Miami

West Region

Play-in game:

(16) Holy Cross Crusaders vs. (16) Southern Jaguars.  "Jesus Christ, what's tha--," says the crusader, right before he's mauled to death by a jaguar.  Winner:  Southern

Round of 64:

(1) Oregon Ducks vs. (16) Southern Jaguars.  Not even close.  Winner:  Southern

(8) St. Joseph's Hawks vs. (9) Cincinnati Bearcats.  Hawks are usually pretty fierce, but a bearcat is an animal that combines the speed and agility of a cat with the strength and tenacity of a bear.  Winner:  Cincinnati

(5) Baylor Bears vs. (12) Yale Bulldogs.  It would be difficult to imagine a scenario in which the bulldog didn't end up in about fifty bloodied chunks of flesh and bone.  Winner:  Baylor

(4) Duke Blue Devils vs. UNC-Wilmington Seahawks.  You ever wonder why birds always seem to shit right on your freshly washed car?  That's because they are controlled by the devil.  Winner:  Duke

(6) Texas Longhorns vs. (11) Northern Iowa Panthers.  Pretty much the entire job of a rancher is to keep panthers away from cattle.  Winner:  Northern Iowa

(3) Texas A&M Aggies vs. (14) Green Bay Phoenix.  I will always go with a mythical bird that rises from its own ashes than a guy who put a screen door on a submarine.  At least that's what I was told growing up in Texas.  Winner:  Green Bay

(7) Oregon State Beavers vs. (10) VCU Rams.  Dams are no match for rams.  Winner:  VCU

(2) Oklahoma Sooners vs. (15) Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners.  The Road Runner was my favorite cartoon as a kid.  Thankfully, there weren't hungry settlers with guns in the show.  Winner:  Oklahoma

Round of 32:

(9) Cincinnati Bearcats vs. (16) Southern Jaguars.  Since a bearcat is basically a bear and a jaguar combined, you have to go with the bearcat.  Winner:  Cincinnati

(4)  Duke Blue Devils vs. (5) Baylor Bears.  A bears vs. bearcats matchup is thwarted by that mischievous Prince of Darkness.  Winner:  Duke

(11)  Northern Iowa Panthers vs. (14) Green Bay Phoenix.  Big cats eat birds, even those with the ability to reincarnate.  Winner:  Northern Iowa

(2) Oklahoma Sooners vs. (10) VCU Rams.  "Martha, good news.  We're having ram for dinner tonight," says the Sooner.  Winner:  Oklahoma

Sweet 16:

(4) Duke Blue Devils vs. (9) Cincinnati Bearcats.  The devil finally meets his match.  Winner:  Cincinnati

(2) Oklahoma Sooners vs. (11) Northern Iowa Panthers.  "Martha, good news.  We're having panther for dinner tonight," says the Sooner  Winner:  Oklahoma

Elite 8:

(2) Oklahoma Sooners vs. (9) Cincinnati Bearcats.  "Martha, good news.  We're having an entire family of Sooners for dinner tonight," says the bearcat.  Winner:  Cincinnati

East Region

Play-in games:

(16) Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs. (16) Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.  Knights train eagles, or so I assume.  Winner:  Fairleigh Dickinson

(11) Michigan Wolverines vs. (11) Tulsa Golden Hurricane.  Wolverines are tenacious, but gilded hurricanes can sweep up wolverines  Winner:  Tulsa

Round of 64:

(1) North Carolina Tarheels vs. (16) Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.  "Dadgumit, I just stepped in tar," says the tarheel just before being run through by a lance.

(8) USC Trojans vs. (9) Providence Friars.  Men of the cloth are far too trusting, so they let a giant wooden horse into their monastery.  Their nighttime slaughter will be written about for generations.  Winner:  USC

(5) Indiana Hoosiers vs. (12) Chattanooga Mocs.  Whatever a Hoosier is, it's not afraid of a pair of cozy slippers.  Winner:  Indiana

(4)  Kentucky Wildcats vs. (13) Stony Brook Seawolves.  A puma is no match for a wolf that can swim really well.  Winner:  Stony Brook

(6)  Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. (11) Tulsa Golden Hurricane.  Already too drunk to stand, the Irishman is tossed effortlessly into the sea.  Winner:  Tulsa

(3)  West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (14) Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.  A mountaineer is basically a lumberjack that can also traverse rugged terrain and shoot raccoons.  Winner:  West Virginia

(7)  Wisconsin Badgers vs. Pittsburgh Panthers.  This would be a hell of a fight, but the slight edge goes to the panther, only because fuck Bo Ryan.  Nevermind, it sounds like someone already did.  Zing!  Winner:  Pittsburgh

(2)  Xavier Musketeers vs. (15) Weber State Wildcats.  So many wildcats to shoot with a musket.  Winner:  Xavier

Round of 32:

(8) USC Trojans vs. (16) Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.  Warriors on horses versus the Trojan Horse.  I'm going to give the edge to the Trojans, based on their cunning.  And they probably cheat.  Winner:  USC

(5) Indiana Hoosiers vs. (13) Stony Brook Seawolves.  Hoosiers are generally more comfortable inland, so I think encountering a wolf that can swim –- and murder -– would be a challenge.  Winner:  Stony Brook

(3) West Virginia Mountaineer vs. (11) Tulsa Golden Hurricane.  The mountaineer just runs to the top of the mountain, where he can't be harmed by the waves and floods below.  Winner:  West Virginia

(2) Xavier Musketeers vs. (10) Pittsburgh Panthers.  Guns don't kill panthers.  Oh wait, that's not true.  Guns absolutely kill panthers.  Winner:  Xavier

Sweet 16:

(8) USC Trojans vs. (13) Stony Brook Seawolves.  Troy was a seaside town, so they knew how to dispose of aquatic lupines.  Winner:  USC

(2) Xavier Musketeers vs. (3) West Virginia Mountaineers.  This is a tough one, but you have to go with the marksmanship of a musketeer over the wile of a mountaineer.  Winner:  Xavier

Elite 8:

(2) Xavier Musketeers vs. (8) USC Trojans.  One thing the Trojans didn't have was guns.  Winner:  Xavier

Midwest Region

Round of 64:

(1) Virginia Cavaliers vs. (16) Hampton Pirates.  A grizzled veteran of the high seas beats a guy with a floppy hat, floppy sword, and pencil thin mustache any day.  Winner:  Hampton

(8) Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. (9) Butler Bulldogs.  While attempting a raid, the raider is bitten in the ankle by a bulldog and retreats.  Winner:  Butler

(5) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (12) Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans.  Someone who makes boilers and can't read is no match for a Trojan.  Winner:  Arkansas-Little Rock

(4) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (13) Iona Gaels.  There's a "gael-force winds" joke in here somewhere.  But seriously, people from Scotland and Ireland are not used to tornadoes.  Welcome to the Midwest, Hamish.  Winner:  Iowa State

(6) Seton Hall Pirates vs. (11) Gonzaga Bulldogs.  What did the bulldog say to the pirate?  Nothing because the pirate had already killed it.  That's the kind of joke my kids would make up. Just because it's not funny doesn't mean it's not true.  Winner:  Seton Hall

(3) Utah Utes vs. (14) Fresno State Bulldogs.  It's a rough time to be a bulldog, but boy, doesn't a bulldog pelt sound comfortable?  Winner:  Utah

(7) Dayton Flyers vs. (10) Syracuse Orange.  Syracuse has no business being in this matchup for a variety of reasons, one of which is that orange is a color, and colors will always lose to pilots.  Winner:  Dayton

(2) Michigan State Spartans vs. (15) Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders.  I'm not sure what a blue raider is, but I am sure a Spartan would gut one from crotch to throat.  Winner:  Michigan State

Round of 32:

(9) Butler Bulldogs vs. (16) Hampton Pirates.  See Seton Hall vs. Gonzaga above.  Winner:  Hampton

(4) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (12) Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans.  Not even a giant wooden horse is a match for a tornado.  Winner:  Iowa State

(3) Utah Utes vs. (6) Seton Hall Pirates.  I give the slight edge to the pirates here because I assume they are willing to do some pretty shady things in a fight.  Winner:  Seton Hall

(2) Michigan State Spartans vs. (7) Dayton Flyers.  Not even Spartans are a match for a tailgunner.  Winner:  Dayton

Round of 16:

(4) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (16) Hampton Pirates.  They never should have come onto land.  Had they just stayed on their boat, they wouldn't have been thrown a half mile into a ditch.  Winner:  Iowa State

(6) Seton Hall Pirates vs. (7) Dayton Flyers.  Your classic sea vs. air matchup.  The fighter plane has a decided advantage over a pirate ship, though.  Winner:  Dayton

Elite 8:

(4) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (7) Dayton Flyers.  Planes and tornados don't mix.  Winner:  Iowa State

Final Four

(3) Miami Hurricanes vs. (9) Cincinnati Bearcats.  Even an animal with all of the greatest characteristics of a bear and a big cat cannot put up with the power of a hurricane.  Winner:  Miami

(2) Xavier Musketeers vs. (4) Iowa State Cyclones.  As gifted marksmen as they may be, you can't shoot a tornado, unless you want it to whip those bullets right back at you.  Winner:  Iowa State

Championship Game

(3) Miami Hurricanes vs. (4) Iowa State Cyclones.  Two of Mother Nature's biggest assholes square off, but only one can be king.  Ask New Orleans if it would have rather been hit by a tornado.  Winner:  Miami

Final Championship Week Predictions

Guys, we made it.  Selection Sunday is here.  At 5:30 Eastern on CBS, some dreams will be realized, while others will be eternally crushed.

Yesterday, another 6 1-seeds lost, bringing the total number of 1-seeds that have lost thus far to 20 -- well over half of the conference regular season champs, which is kind of insane and maybe calls into question why we have conference tournaments.  Below are the highlights from yesterday, when fourteen bids were clinched.  Note that, for my list of bubble teams that won and lost yesterday, I consider the "bubble" to be a little more expansive than others might, so I included some teams that are relatively safe to get into the NCAA Tournament ("high bubble" teams), some teams that need to win a few games to make the Big Dance ("low bubble" teams), as well as mid-major 1-seeds that I think might still have a shot at getting an at-large bid if they don't win their conference tournaments.  Some teams that fit into my definition of the bubble may play themselves off the bubble with a win (or two or three).

• Two teams clinched their first-ever NCAA Tournament bids.  In the America East finals, 1-seed Stony Brook finally planted its flag on the mountaintop, beating 3-seed Vermont 80-74 to clinch the Seawolves' first invite to the Big Dance.  Meanwhile, in the wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity WAC, in a pretty significant upset, 2-seed Cal State Bakersfield beat 1-seed New Mexico State 57-54.  The Roadrunners will be playing in their first NCAA Tournament bid since becoming a D-1 member in 2007.  Is it pure kismet that a show set in Bakersfield called Baskets debuted this year?  Absolutely.  But it needed to be called out.  Congrats to the players on both teams.  They will forever be the first ones to make the NCAA Tournament, which is pretty awesome.
• In the ACC, 1-seed North Carolina beat 2-seed Virginia, 61-57.  The Tarheels will be going to their 47th NCAA Tournament and 6th in a row.  Both UNC and Virginia are probably going to get 1-seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
• In the Big 12, 1-seed Kansas dropped 2-seed West Virginia, 81-71.  The Jayhawks are also going to be a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and they'll be playing in their 45th tourney and 27th in a row.
• In the Big East, top seed Villanova was upset by 3-seed Seton Hall, 69-67, potentially costing the Wildcats a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament (but probably not).  The Pirates will be playing in their 10th NCAA Tournament and first since 2006.
• In the Big Sky, 1-seed Weber State downed 2-seed Montana, 62-59.  The Wildcats will be playing for their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2014. 
• In the Big West, top seeded Hawaii beat 3-seed Long Beach State, 64-60, to clinch the Rainbow Warriors' 5th NCAA Tournament and first since 2002.
• In Conference USA, 2-seed Middle Tennessee State squeaked by 5-seed Old Dominion, 55-53. The Blue Raiders will be playing in their 8th NCAA Tournament and first since 2013.
• In the miggity miggity miggity miggity miggity miggity MAC, 3-seed Buffalo upset top seed Akron. The Bulls will be playing in their 2nd NCAA Tournament after making the Big Dance for the first time last year.
• In the MEAC semis, 1-seed Hampton beat 3-seed South Carolina State pretty handily, 81-69.  The Pirates will be playing in their 6th NCAA Tournament bid and second in a row.
• In the Mountain West, 2-seed Fresno State upset top seeded San Diego State, 68-63, potentially costing the Aztecs a trip to the Big Dance.  The Bulldogs will be playing in their 6th NCAA Tournament and first since 2001.
• In the Pac-12, 1-seed Oregon just demolished 2-seed Utah, 88-57, putting the Ducks in the conversation for a 1-seed.  They will be playing in their 14th NCAA Tournament and 4th in a row.
• In the Southland, top seed Stephen F. Austin trounced 2-seed Texas A&M-CC, 82-60, to cap the Lumberjacks' undefeated season in conference play (the only such team in D-1 to do that this year).  They will be playing in their 4th NCAA Tournament and 3rd in a row.
• In the SWAC, 4-seed Southern upset beat 3-seed Jackson State in a 54-53 thriller.  The Jaguars will be playing in their 9th NCAA Tournament and first since 2013.
• In the AAC semis, 5-seed UConn all but shored up a bid by beating top seed Temple, while 6-seed Memphis dominated 10-seed Tulane, 74-54.  The Huskies will be playing in their 33rd NCAA Tournament and first since 2014, when they won the whole damn thing.  The Tigers will need to win to get in and, if they do, they will be playing in their 27th NCAA Tournament and first since 2014.
• In the Atlantic 10 semis, 1-seed Dayton was upset by 4-seed St. Joseph's.  The Hawks are now pretty much a lock for the tournament, and will be playing in their 21st NCAA Tournament and first since 2014. In the other semi, 6-seed Davidson's chances of making the tourney likely ended, with a 76-54 thrashing at the hands of 2-seed VCU.  The Rams have likely put themselves in the Big Dance win or lose.  They will be playing in their 15th NCAA Tournament and 6th in a row.
• In the semis of the Big Ten Tournament, 4-seed Purdue beat 8-seed Michigan, and 2-seed Michigan State beat 3-seed Maryland.  La-di-frickin'-da.
• In the SEC, the only two teams who deserve an NCAA Tournament bid (Kentucky and Texas A&M) won, but who really gives a shit about the SEC?
• In the Sun Belt, top seeded Arkansas-Little Rock downed 4-seed Louisiana Lafayette, while 2-seed Louisiana Monroe beat 3-seed UT-Arlington.  The Trojans will be playing for their 5th NCAA Tournament and first since 2011, while the Warhawks will be playing for their 8th NCAA Tournament and first since 1996.
• Bubble teams that won yesterday:  Arkansas-Little Rock, Connecticut, St. Joseph's
• Bubble teams that lost yesterday:  Akron, Davidson, Dayton, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, San Diego State, Temple

Here are 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 with games today
-AAC
-Atlantic 10
-Big Ten
-SEC
-Sun Belt

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern)

-Atlantic 10:  (4) St. Joseph's vs. (2) VCU (12:30 p.m.; CBS) 
-SEC:  (1) Texas A&M vs. (2) Kentucky (1 p.m.; ESPN) 
-Sun Belt:  (1) Arkansas-Little Rock vs. (2) Louisiana Monroe (1 p.m.; ESPN2) 
-Big Ten:  (4) Purdue vs. (2) Michigan State (3 p.m.; CBS) 
-AAC:  (5) Connecticut vs. (6) Memphis (3:15 p.m.; ESPN)

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

-ACC:  North Carolina (47)
-America East:  Stony Brook (1)
-Atlantic Sun:  Florida Gulf Coast (2)
-Big 12:  Kansas (45)
-Big East:  Seton Hall (10)
-Big Sky:  Weber State (16)
-Big South:  UNC-Asheville (4)
-Big West:  Hawaii (5)
-Colonial: UNC-Wilmington (5)
-Conference USA:  Middle Tennessee State (8)
-Horizon:  Green Bay (5)
-Ivy League:  Yale (4)
-MAAC:  Iona (11)
-MAC:  Buffalo (2)
-MEAC:  Hampton (6)
-Missouri Valley:  Northern Iowa (8)
-Mountain West:  Fresno State (6)
-NEC:  Fairleigh Dickinson (5)
-OVC:  Austin Peay (7)
-Pac-12:  Oregon (14)
-Patriot League:  Holy Cross (13)
-SoCon:  Chattanooga (11)
-Southland:  Stephen F. Austin (4)
-Summit:  South Dakota State (3)
-SWAC:  Southern (9)
-WAC:  Cal State Bakersfield (1)
-WCC:  Gonzaga (19)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern)

AAC (March 10-13; Orlando)

3/13 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN) (5) Connecticut vs. (6) Memphis.  Predicted winner:  Connecticut

Atlantic 10 (March 9-13; Brooklyn)

3/13 – Finals

12:30 p.m. (CBS) (4) St. Joseph's vs. (2) VCU.  Predicted winner:  VCU

Big Ten (March 9-13; Indianapolis)

3/13 – Finals

3 p.m. (CBS) (4) Purdue vs. (2) Michigan State.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

SEC (March 9-13; Nashville)

3/13 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Texas A&M vs. (2) Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky

Sun Belt (March 10-13; New Orleans)

3/13 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Arkansas-Little Rock vs. (2) Louisiana Monroe.  Predicted winner:  Arkansas-Little Rock

Midwestern Eavesdropping

Thirtysomething man to his 9-year-old daughter at a party: "Honey, you can have whatever you want."

Daughter: "Can I have a cigarette?"

--Chicago

Eavesdropper: GMYH

Updated Championship Week Predictions

Yesterday, another two 1-seeds lost, bringing the total number of 1-seeds that have lost thus far to 14.  The insanity should continue today, with over 14 continuous hours of college basketball, from the tip-off of the America East final at 11 a.m. Eastern to the final horn in the Big West final, which tips at 11:30 p.m. Eastern.  Fourteen bids are up for grabs, and another five leagues have their semifinals.  

Below are the highlights from yesterday.  Note that, for my list of bubble teams that won and lost yesterday, I consider the "bubble" to be a little more expansive than others might, so I included some teams that are relatively safe to get into the NCAA Tournament ("high bubble" teams), some teams that need to win a few games to make the Big Dance ("low bubble" teams), as well as mid-major 1-seeds that I think might still have a shot at getting an at-large bid if they don't win their conference tournaments.  Some teams that fit into my definition of the bubble may play themselves off the bubble with a win (or two or three).

• In the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, my beloved 1-seeded Hoosiers played the role of benevolent benefactor by allowing 8-seed Michigan to beat them on a last-second 3, in order to give the Wolverines a chance of making the NCAA Tournament.  5-seed Purdue ended 12-seed Illinois's attempted Cinderella run with an 89-58 drubbing.  2-seed Michigan State killed 7-seed Ohio State, ending the Buckeyes' dreams of an NCAA Tournament bid.  In the final game of the night, 3-seed Maryland looked good as they beat 11-seed Nebraska, 97-86.
• In the ACC semis, 1-seed North Carolina manhandled 4-seed Notre Dame, 78-47.  The Tarheels are, of course, a lock for the NCAA Tournament, and they will be going to their 47th NCAA Tournament and 6th in a row.  In the second semifinal, 2-seed Virginia beat 3-seed Miami, 73-68.  The Cavaliers are also a lock for the NCAA Tournament.  They'll be playing in their 20th NCAA Tournament and 3rd in a row.  Both UNC and Virginia are likely 1-seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
• In the Big 12 semis, 1-seed Kansas held off 5-seed Baylor, 70-66.  The Jayhawks are a lock for the NCAA Tournament, and they'll be playing in their 45th tourney and 27th in a row.  In the other semi, 2-seed West Virginia hit a free throw to go up 2 with 1.8 seconds left, and then 3-seed Oklahoma inbounded the ball to their star Buddy Hield, who hit a half-court shot that would have been the game winner, but it was still in hit hands when the clock hit zero, so the officials waved it off after reviewing the replay.  The Mountaineers are also a lock for the tournament.  They will be playing in their 27th NCAA Tournament and second in a row.
• In the Big East semis, top seed Villanova beat 4-seed Providence, 76-68.  The Wildcats are a lock for the Big Dance.  They will be playing in their 36th NCAA Tournament and 4th in a row.  In the other semi, 3-seed Seton Hall upset 2-seed Xavier, 87-83, likely solidifying an invitation to the Big Dance for the Pirates.  They will be playing in their 10th NCAA Tournament and first since 2006.
• In the Big Sky semis, 1-seed Weber State and 5-seed North Dakota went to overtime before Weber State took care of business and pulled out an 83-78 win.  In the other game, 2-seed Montana beat 3-seed Idaho.  The Wildcats will be playing for their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2014.  The Grizzlies will be playing for their 11th NCAA Tournament and first since 2013.
• In the Big West semis, top seeded Hawaii beat 4-seed UC Santa Barbara, 88-76, while 3-seed Long Beach State upended 2-seed UC Irvine.  The Rainbow Warriors will be going for their 5th NCAA Tournament bid and first since 2002.  The 49ers will be going for their 10th NCAA Tournament and first since 2012.
• In the Conference USA semis, 5-seed Old Dominion beat 8-seed Western Kentucky, 89-77, and 2-seed Middle Tennessee State beat 3-seed Marshall, 99-90.  The Monarchs will be playing for their 12th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2011. The Blue Raiders will be playing for their 8th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2013.
• In the miggity miggity miggity miggity miggity miggity MAC semis, top seed Akron ended 12-seed Bowling Green's Cinderella dreams with an 80-66 win, and 3-seed Buffalo beat 2-seed Ohio.  The Zips will be playing for their 5th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2013. The Bulls will be playing for their 2nd NCAA Tournament after making the Big Dance for the first time last year.
• In the MEAC semis, 1-seed Hampton topped 5-seed Savannah State, 89-55, and 3-seed South Carolina State edged 2-seed Norfolk State, 67-65.  The Pirates will be playing for their 6th NCAA Tournament bid and second in a row (and, of course, they were the fourth15-seed to beat a 2-seed, back in 2001 when they upset Iowa State in the first round).  The Bulldogs will be playing for their 6th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2003.
• In the Mountain West semis, top seeded San Diego State beat 5-seed Nevada, while 2-seed Fresno State downed 6-seed Colorado State.  The Aztecs are playing for their 12th NCAA Tournament and 7th in a row, although they may get an at-large bid even if they lose.  The Bulldogs will be playing for their 6th NCAA Tournament and first since 2001.
• In the Pac-12 semis, 4-seed Arizona overcame a 7-point deficit with 27 seconds left in regulation to force overtime with 1-seed Oregon, but the Ducks did what they needed to do in OT, winning 95-89.  The Ducks are a lock for the Big Dance.  They will be playing in their 14th NCAA Tournament and 4th in a row.  In the other semi, 2-seed Utah beat 3-seed Cal 82-78.  The Utes are also a lock for the tournament, and will be playing in their 29th NCAA Tournament and second in a row.
• In the Southland semis, top seed Stephen F. Austin just dumped on 4-seed Houston Baptist, 104-68, while 2-seed Texas A&M-CC hit a 3 with 7 seconds left to beat 3-seed Sam Houston State, 79-76.  The Lumberjacks will be playing for their 4th NCAA Tournament bid and 3rd in a row, while the Islanders will be playing for their 2nd NCAA Tournament bid and first since 2007.
• In the SWAC semis, 4-seed Southern upset 1-seed Texas Southern, while 3-seed Jackson State took down 7-seed Mississippi Valley State.  The Jaguars will be playing for their 9th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2013, when they nearly became the first 16-seed to beat a 1-seed, losing to Gonzaga 62-58.  The Tigers will be playing for their 4th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2007.
• In the wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity WAC semis, 1-seed New Mexico State beat 5-seed UMKC 78-64, and 2-seed Cal State Bakersfield annihilated 3-seed Seattle, 72-47.  The Aggies are playing for their 23rd NCAA Tournament berth and 5th in a row.  The Roadrunners will be playing for their first NCAA Tournament bid since becoming a D-1 member in 2007, after being a D-II power for many years.
• The most exciting game of the day (and of Championship Week thus far) was in the AAC quarterfinals, as two bubble teams -- 4-seed Cincinnati and 5-seed UConn -- went to four overtimes before the Huskies pulled away for a 104-97 win.  In the third overtime, Cincinnati's Kevin Johnson hit a 3 with 0.8 seconds left to give the Bearcats a 3-point lead, only to see UConn's Jalen Adams hit a three-quarter court shot to force a fourth OT.  As you may recall, UConn was on the losing end of that epic 2009 Big East Tournament quarterfinal game with Syracuse that went to six overtimes, and as you may not recall, Cincinnati was part of the longest game in Division 1 history -- a seven-overtime win over Bradley in December 1981.  While top seed Temple won, 2-seed Houston fell to 10-seed Tulane, 72-69, and 3-seed Tulsa got throttled by 6-seed Memphis, 89-67, likely ending any NCAA Tournament hopes for the Cougars or the Golden Hurricane.
• In the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals, 6-seed Davidson beat 3-seed St. Bonaventure 90-86 in overtime, which may have bumped the Bonnies from the NCAA Tournament.
• The SEC continues to prove that it is by far the worst of the major conferences, as 6-seed Georgia upset 3-seed South Carolina in the quarterfinals, likely pushing the Gamecocks out of the NCAA Tournament.  The SEC may only get two teams into the Big Dance this year.
• Bubble teams that won yesterday:  Akron, Connecticut, Davidson, Dayton, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, San Diego State, Seton Hall, St. Joseph's, Temple, VCU
• Bubble teams that lost yesterday:  Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida, George Washington, Houston, Ohio State, Providence, St. Bonaventure, South Carolina, Tulsa

Here are 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 with games today
-AAC
-ACC
-America East
-Atlantic 10
-Big 12
-Big East
-Big Sky
-Big Ten
-Big West
-Conference USA
-MAC
-MEAC
-Mountain West
-Pac-12
-SEC
-Southland
-Sun Belt
-SWAC
-WAC

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern)

-America East:  (3) Vermont at (1) Stony Brook (11 a.m.; ESPN2)
-MEAC:  (1) Hampton vs. (3) South Carolina State (1:00 p.m.; ESPN2)
-Conference USA:  (2) Middle Tennessee State vs. (5) Old Dominion (2:30 p.m.; Fox Sports 1)
-Big East:  (1) Villanova vs. (3) Seton Hall (5:30 p.m.; Fox)
-Big 12:  (1) Kansas vs. (2) West Virginia (6 p.m.; ESPN)
-Mountain West:  (1) San Diego State vs. (2) Fresno State (6 p.m.; CBS)
-SWAC:  (3) Jackson State vs. (4) Southern (6:30 p.m.; ESPNU)
-MAC:  (1) Akron vs. (3) Buffalo (7:30 p.m.; ESPN2)
-Big Sky:  (1) Weber State vs. (2) Montana (8:45 p.m.; ESPNU)
-ACC:  (1) North Carolina vs. (2) Virginia (9 p.m.; ESPN)
-Southland:  (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (2) Texas A&M-CC (9:30 p.m.; ESPN2)
-Pac-12:  (1) Oregon vs. (2) Utah (11 p.m.; Fox Sports 1)
-WAC:  (1) New Mexico State vs. (2) Cal State Bakersfield (11 p.m.; ESPNU)
-Big West:  (1) Hawaii vs. (3) Long Beach State (11:30 p.m.; ESPN2)

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

-Atlantic Sun:  Florida Gulf Coast (2)
-Colonial: UNC-Wilmington (5)
-Big South:  UNC-Asheville (4)
-Horizon:  Green Bay (5)
-Ivy League:  Yale (4)
-MAAC:  Iona (11)
-Missouri Valley:  Northern Iowa (8)
-NEC:  Fairleigh Dickinson (5)
-OVC:  Austin Peay (7)
-Patriot League:  Holy Cross (13)
-SoCon:  Chattanooga (11)
-Summit:  South Dakota State (3)
-WCC:  Gonzaga (19)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern)

AAC (March 10-13; Orlando)

3/12 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Temple vs. (5) Connecticut.  Predicted winner:  Temple

5 p.m. (ESPN2) (10) Tulane vs. (6) Memphis.  Predicted winner:  Memphis

3/13 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Temple vs. (6) Memphis.  Predicted winner:  Temple

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

3/12 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) North Carolina vs. (2) Virginia.  Predicted winner:  Virginia

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

3/12 – Finals

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

Atlantic 10 (March 9-13; Brooklyn)

3/12 – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Dayton vs. (4) St. Joseph's.  Predicted winner:  Dayton

4 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) VCU vs. (6) Davidson.  Predicted winner:  VCU

3/13 – Finals

12:30 p.m. (CBS) (1) Dayton vs. (2) VCU.  Predicted winner:  Dayton

Big 12 (March 9-12; Kansas City)

3/12 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Kansas vs. (2) West Virginia.  Predicted winner:  Kansas

Big East (March 9-12; New York)

3/12 – Finals

5:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) Villanova vs. (3) Seton Hall.  Predicted winner:  Villanova

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

3/12 – Finals

8:45 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Weber State vs. (2) Montana.  Predicted winner:  Weber State

Big Ten (March 9-13; Indianapolis)

3/12 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBS) (8) Michigan vs. (4) Purdue.  Predicted winner:  Purdue

3:30 p.m. (CBS) (2) Michigan State vs. (3) Maryland.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

3/13 – Finals

3 p.m. (CBS) (4) Purdue vs. (2) Michigan State.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

Big West (March 10-12; Anaheim)

3/12 – Finals

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Hawaii vs. (3) Long Beach State.  Predicted winner:  Hawaii

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

3/12 – Finals

2:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (5) Old Dominion vs. (2) MTSU.  Predicted winner:  MTSU

MAC (March 7, 10-12; Cleveland)

3/12 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Akron vs. (3) Buffalo.  Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 7-12; Norfolk, VA)

3/12 – Final

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

Mountain West (March 9-12; Las Vegas)

3/12 – Finals

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

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

3/12 – Finals

11 p.m. (FS1) (1) Oregon vs. (2) Utah.  Predicted winner:  Oregon

SEC (March 9-13; Nashville)

3/12 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Texas A&M vs. (4) LSU.  Predicted winner:  Texas A&M

3 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Kentucky vs. (6) Georgia.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky

3/13 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Texas A&M vs. (2) Kentucky.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky

Southland (March 9-12; Katy, TX)

3/12 – Finals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (2) Texas A&M-CC. Predicted winner:  Stephen F. Austin

Sun Belt (March 10-13; New Orleans)

3/12 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Arkansas-Little Rock vs. (4) Louisiana Lafayette.  Predicted winner:  Arkansas-Little Rock

4:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Louisiana Monroe vs. (3) UT-Arlington.  Predicted winner:  UT-Arlington

3/13 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Arkansas-Little Rock vs. (3) UT-Arlington.  Predicted winner:  Arkansas-Little Rock

SWAC (March 8-12; Houston)

3/12 – Finals

6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (4) Southern vs. (3) Jackson State.  Predicted winner:  Jackson State

WAC (March 10-12; Las Vegas)

3/12 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) New Mexico State vs. (2) Cal State Bakersfield.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico State

Hair Band Friday - 3/11/16

1.  "Had Enough" by Mr. Big


2.  "Am I Ever Gonna Change" by Extreme


3.  "Get in the Ring" by Guns N' Roses


4.  "Heaven Is" by Def Leppard


5.  "State of Emergency" by Winger


6.  "Rock Me" by Great White


7.  "We're No Good Together" by Tesla


8.  "Three Lock Box" by Sammy Hagar


9.  "You're the Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised" by Warrant


10.  "Cathedral" by Van Halen

Updated Championship Week Predictions

Yesterday, another 1-seed lost, bringing the total number of 1-seeds that have lost thus far to 12.  By the time we're all said and done, the NIT field could be filled up before Selection Sunday.  (In case you don't know, any regular season conference champion who does not win its conference tournament and does not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament gets an automatic bid to the NIT.)  Today provides the chance for more 1-seeds to fall, as 16 1-seeds will be in action today.  It should be an exciting day, as 13 tournaments have their semifinals and 4 more have their quarterfinals (and the Sun Belt has its second round, which is the equivalent of its quarterfinals).  

Before I get to yesterday's action, there was a pretty big announcement affecting next year's Championship Week.  The Ivy League -- which was the only Division 1 conference that did not hold a conference tournament -- announced that, beginning next year, the conference will have tournament for its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, with the top four regular season teams competing at The Palestra.  The semifinals and finals will respectively be on the final Saturday and Sunday of Championship Week.  Good show, old chap.

Below are the highlights from yesterday.  Note that, for my list of bubble teams that won and lost yesterday, I consider the "bubble" to be a little more expansive than others might, so I included some teams that are relatively safe to get into the NCAA Tournament ("high bubble" teams), some teams that need to win a few games to make the Big Dance ("low bubble" teams), as well as mid-major 1-seeds that I think might still have a shot at getting an at-large bid if they don't win their conference tournaments.  Some teams that fit into my definition of the bubble may play themselves off the bubble with a win (or two or three).

• In the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, 8-seed Michigan and 9-seed Northwestern went to overtime before Michigan won, 72-70, keeping the Wolverines' NCAA Tournament hopes alive and setting up a meeting with top seed Indiana.  Michigan definitely got away with a travel near the end of regulation that would have given the ball to Northwestern with 14 seconds left, down one.  But, as they say, ball don't lie. After getting fouled, Michigan missed the second free throw, and Northwestern came down and got a fall-away shot in the lane off of a rebound with 0.1 seconds left to sent it to OT.  I hope the Wildcats get into and win the NIT.  Meanwhile, 5-seed Iowa continued its month-long slide by losing to 12-seed Illinois.  I think this puts Iowa on the bubble -- the "high bubble," but the bubble nonetheless.  After starting 19-4, the Hawkeyes have lost 6 of their last 8.  7-seed Ohio State fought off 10-seed Penn State to keep the Buckeyes' slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive.  In the last game of the night, 11-seed Nebraska beat 6-seed Wisconsin, much to the delight of Maryland, who will be playing the Cornhuskers today.  Wisconsin is still pretty safe to make the NCAA Tournament, although this loss definitely hurts the Badgers' seed.
• In the ACC quarterfinals, 4-seed Notre Dame and 5-seed Duke played an up-and-down game, where both teams had big leads in regulation -- ND in the first half and Duke in the second half -- before the Irish won in OT, 84-79.
• In the Big 12 quarterfinals, 4-seed Texas fell to 5-seed Baylor, 75-61.  That's not a huge upset or anything, but I told you yesterday that I would let you know when a top 4 seed in any tournament fell before the semis, and I wasn't lying.
• In the Big Sky quarterfinals, 4-seed Idaho State got destroyed by 5-seed North Dakota, 83-49.
• In the Conference USA quarterfinals, two of the top four seeds lost.  1-seed UAB got beaten pretty handily by 8-seed Western Kentucky, 88-77.  By losing so early, the Blazers likely relegated themselves to the NIT, rather than having a shot at an at-large bid to the Big Dance. Also, 4-seed Louisiana Tech fell to 5-seed Old Dominion.
• In the MAC quarterfinals, top-seeded Akron came back from a second-half double-digit deficit to beat 8-seed Eastern Michigan, 65-63, but 4-seed Central Michigan could not escape the upset bug, falling to 12-seed Bowling Green 62-59.
• In the MEAC quarterfinals, 4-seed Bethune-Cookman was downed by 5-seed Savannah State, 57-50, to set up a meeting with 1-seed Hampton tonight.
• In the Mountain West quarterfinals, two of the top four seeds lost. 1-seed San Diego State survived a scare from 9-seed Utah State, but pulled out a 71-65 win.  4-seed New Mexico lost to 5-seed Nevada, 64-62, while 6-seed Colorado State upset 3-seed Boise State, 88-81.
• In the wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity WAC quarterfinals, 4-seed Utah Valley fell to 5-seed UMKC, who overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to pull out a 80-78 win.  My main motivation in writing that last sentence is so that I could mention that UMKC's mascot is the Kangaroos.
• The most exciting game of the day that I haven't already mentioned probably would have to go to the SEC second round matchup between 5-seed Vanderbilt and 12-seed Tennessee.  After getting blown out in their two regular season meetings, the Vols got revenge with a 67-65 win over the Commodores, when what would have been a last-second, game-tying layup by Vandy was ruled to be released after time expired.  That probably ended the Commodores' NCAA Tournament hopes.
• Bubble teams that won yesterday:  Akron, Alabama, Davidson, Florida, George Washington, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Providence, San Diego State, Seton Hall
• Bubble teams that lost yesterday:  Butler, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, UAB, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Washington

Here are 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 with games today
-AAC
-ACC
-Atlantic 10
-Big 12
-Big East
-Big Sky
-Big Ten
-Big West
-Conference USA
-MAC
-MEAC
-Mountain West
-Pac-12
-SEC
-Southland
-Sun Belt
-SWAC
-WAC

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern)

-None

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

-Atlantic Sun:  Florida Gulf Coast (2)
-Colonial: UNC-Wilmington (5)
-Big South:  UNC-Asheville (4)
-Horizon:  Green Bay (5)
-Ivy League:  Yale (4)
-MAAC:  Iona (11)
-Missouri Valley:  Northern Iowa (8)
-NEC:  Fairleigh Dickinson (5)
-OVC:  Austin Peay (7)
-Patriot League:  Holy Cross (13)
-SoCon:  Chattanooga (11)
-Summit:  South Dakota State (3)
-WCC:  Gonzaga (19)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern)

AAC (March 10-13; Orlando)

3/11 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Temple vs. (9) South Florida.  Predicted winner:  Temple

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Cincinnati vs. (5) Connecticut.  Predicted winner:  Connecticut

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) Tulsa vs. (6) Memphis.  Predicted winner:  Tulsa

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Houston vs. (10) Tulane.  Predicted winner:  Houston

3/12 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Temple vs. (5) Connecticut.  Predicted winner:  Temple

5 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Houston vs. (3) Tulsa.  Predicted winner:  Tulsa

3/13 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Temple vs. (3) Tulsa.  Predicted winner:  Tulsa

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

3/11 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) North Carolina vs. (4) Notre Dame.  Predicted winner:  Notre Dame

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Virginia vs. (3) Miami.  Predicted winner:  Virginia

3/12 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Virginia vs. (4) Notre Dame.  Predicted winner:  Virginia

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

3/12 – Finals

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

Atlantic 10 (March 9-13; Brooklyn)

3/11 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (NBCSN) (1) Dayton vs. (9) Richmond.  Predicted winner:  Dayton

2 p.m. (NBCSN) (4) St. Joseph's vs. (5) George Washington.  Predicted winner:  St. Joseph's

6:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (2) VCU vs. (10) Massachusetts.  Predicted winner:  VCU

9 p.m. (NBCSN) (3) St. Bonaventure vs. (6) Davidson.  Predicted winner:  St. Bonaventure

3/12 – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Dayton vs. (4) St. Joseph's.  Predicted winner:  Dayton

4 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) VCU vs. (3) St. Bonaventure.  Predicted winner:  St. Bonaventure

3/13 – Finals

12:30 p.m. (CBS) (1) Dayton vs. (3) St. Bonaventure.  Predicted winner:  Dayton

Big 12 (March 9-12; Kansas City)

3/11 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Kansas vs. (5) Baylor.  Predicted winner:  Baylor

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) West Virginia vs. (3) Oklahoma.  Predicted winner:  Oklahoma

3/12 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Oklahoma vs. (5) Baylor.  Predicted winner:  Oklahoma

Big East (March 9-12; New York)

3/11 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (1) Villanova vs. (4) Providence.  Predicted winner:  Villanova

9 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (2) Xavier vs. (3) Seton Hall.  Predicted winner:  Xavier

3/12 – Finals

5:30 p.m. (Fox) (1) Villanova vs. (2) Xavier.  Predicted winner:  Villanova

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

3/11 – Semifinals

8:35 p.m. (1) Weber State vs. (5) North Dakota.  Predicted winner:  Weber State

11:05 p.m. (2) Montana vs. (3) Idaho.  Predicted winner:  Montana

3/12 – Finals

8:45 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Weber State vs. (2) Montana.  Predicted winner:  Weber State

Big Ten (March 9-13; Indianapolis)

3/11 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Indiana vs. (8) Michigan.  Predicted winner:  Indiana

2:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) Purdue vs. (12) Illinois.  Predicted winner:  Purdue

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) Michigan State vs. (7) Ohio State.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

9 p.m. (BTN) (3) Maryland vs. (11) Nebraska.  Predicted winner:  Wisconsin

3/12 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBS) (1) Indiana vs. (4) Purdue.  Predicted winner:  Indiana

3:30 p.m. (CBS) (2) Michigan State vs. (3) Maryland.  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

3/13 – Finals

3 p.m. (CBS) (1) Indiana vs. (2) Michigan State.  Predicted winner:  Indiana

Big West (March 10-12; Anaheim)

3/11 – Semifinals

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU – tape delayed) (1) Hawaii vs. (4) UC Santa Barbara.  Predicted winner:  Hawaii

11:59 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) UC Irvine vs. (3) Long Beach State.  Predicted winner:  UC Irvine

3/12 – Finals

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Hawaii vs. (2) UC Irvine.  Predicted winner:  Hawaii

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

3/11 – Semifinals

4 p.m. (CBSSN) (8) Western Kentucky vs. (5) Old Dominion.  Predicted winner:  Old Dominion

6:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) MTSU vs. (3) Marshall .  Predicted winner:  MTSU

3/12 – Finals

2:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (5) Old Dominion vs. (2) MTSU.  Predicted winner:  MTSU

MAC (March 7, 10-12; Cleveland)

3/11 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (Time Warner Sportschannel/BCSN/ESPN3) (1) Akron vs. (12) Bowling Green.  Predicted winner:  Akron

9 p.m. (Time Warner Sportschannel/BCSN/ESPN3) (2) Ohio vs. (3) Buffalo.  Predicted winner:  Buffalo

3/12 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Akron vs. (3) Buffalo.  Predicted winner:  Akron

MEAC (March 7-12; Norfolk, VA)

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

Mountain West (March 9-12; Las Vegas)

3/11 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) San Diego State vs. (5) Nevada.  Predicted winner:  San Diego State

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Fresno State vs. (6) Colorado State.  Predicted winner:  Fresno State

3/12 – Finals

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

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

3/11 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) Oregon vs. (4) Arizona.  Predicted winner:  Oregon

11:30 p.m. (FS1) (2) Utah vs. (3) Cal.  Predicted winner:  Utah

3/12 – Finals

11 p.m. (FS1) (1) Oregon vs. (2) Utah.  Predicted winner:  Oregon

SEC (March 9-13; Nashville)

3/11 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (1) Texas A&M vs. (8) Florida.  Predicted winner:  Florida

3 p.m. (SEC Network) (4) LSU vs. (12) Tennessee.  Predicted winner:  LSU

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

9 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) South Carolina vs. (6) Georgia.  Predicted winner:  South Carolina

3/12 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (4) LSU vs. (8) Florida.  Predicted winner:  Florida

3 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Kentucky vs. (3) South Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky

3/13 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Kentucky vs. (8) Florida.  Predicted winner:  Kentucky

Southland (March 9-12; Katy, TX)

3/11 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (4) Houston Baptist.  Predicted winner:  Stephen F. Austin

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Texas A&M-CC vs. (3) Sam Houston State.  Predicted winner:  Texas A&M-CC

3/12 – Finals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (2) Texas A&M-CC. Predicted winner:  Stephen F. Austin

Sun Belt (March 10-13; New Orleans)

3/11 – Second Round

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Louisiana Lafayette vs. (8) South Alabama.  Predicted winner:  Louisiana Lafayette

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) UT-Arlington vs. (7) Texas State.  Predicted winner:  UT-Arlington

3/12 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Arkansas-Little Rock vs. (4) Louisiana Lafayette.  Predicted winner:  Arkansas-Little Rock

4:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) Louisiana Monroe vs. (3) UT-Arlington.  Predicted winner:  UT-Arlington

3/13 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Arkansas-Little Rock vs. (3) UT-Arlington.  Predicted winner:  Arkansas-Little Rock

SWAC (March 8-12; Houston)

3/11 – Semifinals

3:30 p.m. (1) Texas Southern vs. (4) Southern.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

9:30 p.m. (7) Mississippi Valley State vs. (3) Jackson State.  Predicted winner:  Jackson State

3/12 – Finals

6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Texas Southern vs. (3) Jackson State.  Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

WAC (March 10-12; Las Vegas)

3/11 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (1) New Mexico State vs. (5) UKMC.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico State

11:30 p.m. (2) Cal State Bakersfield vs. (3) Seattle.  Predicted winner:  Cal State Bakersfield

3/12 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) New Mexico State vs. (2) Cal State Bakersfield.  Predicted winner:  New Mexico State