ESPN RISE National High School Invitational

The McDonald's All-American Game took place last night, but for eight of the country's best high school basketball teams, the most important games have yet to be played. The ESPN RISE National High School (Basketball) Invitational kicks off this afternoon at Georgetown High School in Bethesda, Maryland. The tournament is designed to crown a high school basketball "national champion" of sorts, as some of the country's best teams are set to attend. Each team will play three games over the weekend, and all of these games will be televised by ESPNU. Each of the teams in the tourney are filled with college level talent and they will be sure to put on quite the show. The RISE Invitational has quickly become one of the nation's most prestigious tournaments due to its national appeal. Only ESPN could pull off something this big at the high school level. Here's a preview of the seeds and each team's best players...

(1)Montrose Christian Academy - Rockville, Maryland 
Tyrone Johnson (Senior) - #71ESPNU, Committed to Villanova
Justin Anderson Jr. (Junior) - #51ESPNU

(2)Oak Hill Academy - Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
Quinn Cook (Senior) - #39ESPNU, McDonald's All-American, Committed to Duke
Damien Wilson (Junior) - #49ESPNU
A.J. Hammons (Junior) - #54ESPNU

(3)Findlay Prep - Henderson, Nevada
Myck Kabongo (Senior) #9ESPNU, McDonald's All-American, Committed to Texas
Nick Johnson (Senior) #23ESPNU, Committed to Arizona
Amir Garrett (Senior) #95ESPNU, Committed to St. John's

(4)Winter Park HS - Winter Park, Florida
Austin Rivers (Senior) #1ESPNU, McDonald's All-American, Committed to Duke

(5)Boys and Girls HS - Brooklyn, New York
Mike Taylor (Senior) Committed to Rutgers
Antione Slaughter (Senior) New York City PSAL Championship MVP

(6)Dwyer HS - Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Joell James (Junior) #33ESPNU
Jacoby Brissett (Senior) Committed to Florida to play football [QB]

(7)United Faith Christian Academy - Charlotte, North Carolina
Braxton Ogbueze (Junior) #43ESPNU 
Peter Jurkin (Senior) Committed to Indiana
Paris Roberts-Campbell (Senior) Committed to East Carolina

(8)John Carroll HS - Bel Air, Maryland
Malcolm McMillan (Senior)
Ronald Scott (Senior)

The first game tips off today at 2pm...be sure to tune in!!!

State Farm College Basketball 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contest

The Final Four has long doubled as the NCAA's equivalent to NBA All-Star Weekend. Sometimes the performances in the college three point shoot-out and dunk contest are even more impressive than what a casual fan will see at "All-Star Saturday Night". There probably wont be anyone dunking over a Kia in Houston on Thursday night, but expect a lot of creativity from the dunk contestants and some impressive shooting from the three-point marksmen. This event is one of the hidden gems of the events leading up to the Final Four. The event will not be shown live, but will be aired at 9pm on ESPN2. Here is a list of this year's participants.

THREE-POINT CONTEST
Dwight Hardy - St. John's
LaceDarius Dunn - Baylor
Andrew Goudelock - College of Charleston
Ravern Johnson - Mississippi State
Mickey McConnell - St. Mary's
Brady Morningstar - Kansas
Jacob Pullen- Kansas State
Chris Warren - Ole Miss

SLAM DUNK CONTEST
Justin Burrell - St. John's
Gilbert Brown - Pittsburgh
Will Coleman - Memphis
Jacob Tucker - Illinois College
Justin Tubbs - East Tennessee State
Billy White - San Diego State
Darnell Wilks - Cincinnati
John Williams - UNC Asheville

Reese's College Basketball All-Star Game

College basketball has always lacked a true all-star game to showcase the talents of it's finest players, but the Reese's College Basketball All-Star Game is a start. The game has been played for a few years now and is finally starting to get some much needed publicity. This year's game will be played Friday in Houston on the eve of the Final Four, and will feature some of college basketball's best players. The game will air on TruTV at 5:30pm so good luck finding the channel. Here's the rosters for the game...

WEST ALL-STARS ROSTER
Andrew Goudelock G 6-2 210 Stone Mtn., Ga./College of Charleston
Tai Wesley F 6-7 240 Provo, Utah/Utah State
Kenneth Faried F/C 6-8 228 Newark, N.J./Morehead State
Malcolm Thomas F 6-9 220 San Diego, Calif./San Diego State
Kalin Lucas G 6-1 195 Detroit, Mich./Michigan State
Tristan Thompson G 6-5 193 Angleton, Texas/North Texas
Alex Stepheson F 6-10 250 Los Angeles, Calif./USC
Mickey McConnell G 6-0 190 Mesa, Ariz./St. Mary's
Cameron Jones G 6-4 185 Los Angeles, Calif./Northern Arizona
Gary Johnson F 6-6 238 Houston, Texas/Texas

Head Coach: Billy Tubbs 
Assistant Coach: Steve McClain

EAST ALL-STARS ROSTER
Dwight Hardy G 6-2 196 Bronx, N.Y./St. John's
Lavoy Allen F 6-9 225 Morrisville, Pa./Temple
Brad Wanamaker G 6-4 210 Philadelphia, Pa./Pittsburgh
Chris Warren G 5-10 168 Orlando, Fla./Mississippi
Austin Freeman G 6-3 235 Mitchellville, Md./Georgetown
Mike Davis F 6-9 225 Alexandria, Va./Illinois
Gary McGhee C 6-11 250 Anderson, Ind./Pittsburgh
Jacob Pullen G 6-0 200 Maywood, Ill./Kansas State
Vlad Moldoveanu F 6-9 215 Bucharest, Romania/American
Jimmy Butler F 6-7 220 Tomball, Texas/Marquette

Head Coach: Bill Foster 
Assistant Coach: Jeff Jones

 

McDonald's All-American Game Roster

The McDonald's All-American Game has been the most prestigious high school basketball all-star game in the country for decades. This year, some of the country's best prep ballers will converge on the United Center in Chicago to showcase the freshman class of 2011. The game will air at 10p.m. on ESPN. Here are this year's participants...

EAST TEAM
Brad Beal G 6-5 Chaminade College Prep, MO (St. Louis, MO) Florida
Chane Behanan F 6-7 Bowling Green, KY (Bowling Green, KY) Louisville
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope G 6-5 Greenville, GA (Greenville, GA) Georgia
Michael Carter-Williams G 6-5 St. Andrew’s, RI (Barrington, RI) Syracuse
Rakeem Christmas F 6-10 Academy of the New Church, PA (Bryn Athyn, PA) Syracuse
Quinn Cook G 6-0 Oak Hill Academy, VA (Mouth of Wilson, VA) Duke
Michael Gilchrist F 6-7 St. Patrick, NJ (Elizabeth, NJ) Kentucky
P.J. Hairston G/F 6-6 Hargrave Military Academy, VA (Chatham, VA) North Carolina
James McAdoo F 6-8 Norfolk Christian, VA (Norfolk, VA) North Carolina
Johnny O’Bryant III C 6-10 Eastside, MS (Cleveland, MS) LSU
Marshall Plumlee F/C 6-10 Christ School, NC (Arden, NC) Duke
Shannon Scott G 6-2 Milton, GA (Alpharetta, GA) Ohio State

Head Coach: Bob Cimino, Mt. Vernon, NY (Mt. Vernon High School)
Asst. Coach: Brian Pritchett, Mt. Vernon, NY (Mt. Vernon High School)

WEST TEAM
Khem Birch F/C 6-9 Notre Dame Prep, MA (Fitchburg, MA) Pittsburgh
Wayne Blackshear G/F 6-5 Morgan Park, IL (Chicago, IL) Louisville
Anthony Davis F/C 6-9 Perspectives Charter, IL (Chicago, IL) Kentucky
Branden Dawson G/F 6-5 Lew Wallace, IN (Gary, IN) Michigan State
Myck Kabongo G 6-1 Findlay Prep, NV (Henderson, NV) Texas
LeBryan Nash F 6-7 Lincoln, TX (Dallas, TX) Oklahoma State
Austin Rivers G 6-3 Winter Park, FL (Winter Park, FL) Duke
Marquis Teague G 6-1 Pike, IN (Indianapolis, IN) Kentucky
Adonis Thomas G/F 6-7 Melrose, TN (Memphis, TN) Memphis
Amir Williams C 6-10 Detroit Country Day, MI (Beverly Hills, MI) Ohio State
Kyle Wiltjer F 6-10 Jesuit, OR (Portland, OR) Kentucky
Cody Zeller F 6-10 Washington, IN (Washington, IN) Indiana

Head Coach: Gene Pingatore, Westchester, IL. (St. Joseph High School)
Asst. Coach: Bill Riley, Westchester, IL. (St. Joseph High School)
Asst. Coach: Daryl Thomas, Westchester, IL. (St. Joseph High School)

***Wayne Blackshear may not participate due to injury. He is a "game-time decision"

The AmStat All-Americans

The Associated Press announced its college basketball All-Americans today, so there’s no better time for us to announce ours. Without further ado…The Amateur Status All-Americans.

 
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Jimmer Fredette (Guard) - BYU
Kemba Walker (Guard) - Connecticut [pictured]
Derrick Williams (Forward) - Arizona
Jared Sullinger (Forward) - Ohio State
Marcus Morris (Forward) - Kansas


SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Nolan Smith (Guard) - Duke
Jordan Taylor (Guard) - Wisconsin
Kenneth Faried (Forward) - Morehead State
JaJuan Johnson (Forward) - Purdue
Kawhi Leonard (Forward) - San Diego State [pictured]


THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Ben Hansbrough (Guard) - Notre Dame
Marshon Brooks (Guard) - Providence
Chandler Parsons (Forward) - Florida
Harrison Barnes (Forward) - North Carolina
Kyle Singler (Forward) - Duke


FOURTH TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Dwight Hardy (Guard) - St. John’s
Jacob Pullen (Guard) - Kansas State
Tu Holloway (Guard) - Xavier
Rick Jackson (Forward) - Syracuse
Keith Benson (Center) - Oakland [pictured]


FIFTH TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Charles Jenkins (Guard) - Hofstra
Andrew Goudelock (Guard) - Charleston
Jordan Hamilton (Forward) - Texas
Taj Wesley (Forward) - Utah State
Terrence Jones (Forward) - Kentucky

Cinderella Still Dancing on the Women's Side Too!

Women’s basketball has not reached the level of parity that men’s basketball has in recent years. Cinderella stories and runs toward the second weekend by double-digit seeds are common place on the men’s side, but the efforts of 11-seed Gonzaga have been truly special in the women’s tournament. The Ladies Elite Eight is set, and as usual, all four top seeds remain. Three top seeds will face 2-seeds as their regional final opponent, but one top seed will face Gonzaga. The Lady Zags run through this tournament has been thrilling and I, for one, will be rooting for them to be the VCU of the Women’s Final Four. Gonzaga is led by senior point guard, Courtney Vandersloot. Her statistical achievements are staggering, and she is every bit as good as the stats suggest. If Gonzaga wins, they would be the lowest seed in the history of the Women’s Final Four, and Vandersloot would become a legend along the likes of Jackie Styles. Here are the games that will decide he goes to Indianapolis for a chance to become champions.  

(1)TENNESSEE VS (2)NOTRE DAME - DAYTON, OH

(1)CONNECTICUT VS (2)DUKE - PHILADELPHIA, PA

(1)BAYLOR VS (2)TEXAS A&M - DALLAS, TX
 
(1)STANFORD VS (11)GONZAGA - SPOKANE, WA

The Most Unlikely Final Four Ever

The 2010-2011 college basketball season has come down to one final weekend, and an epic Monday night conclusion that will surely be epic. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the Final Four does not contain a 1-seed or a 2-seed. Two mid-major programs broke through as regional champions, and the highest remaining seed entered the postseason as an 11-seed in their own conference tournament three weeks ago. Now four teams stand two games away from being the most improbable champion that this tournament has ever seen. Here are the contests that will decide the NCAA National Championship.

(8)BUTLER VS (11)VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
The only thing more amazing than the Butler Bulldogs returning to the Final Four for a second consecutive year is that they will be returning as the home team in the National Semifinal. Butler’s run through the Southeast Region was somewhat upstaged by VCU’s run from being one of the field’s most controversial inclusions to being the tournament’s biggest surprise. Not enough attention has been given to the fact that VCU has actually played one more tournament game than the other remaining participants. VCU was a victim of the horrible “First Four” gimmick that forced the Rams to play a play-in game as an 11-seed, but they have somehow found a reservoir of energy that has them flying the highest of any team going into the weekend. The Rams have gotten two of their best three-point shooting performances of the season during the tournament, and have seemingly peaked at a dangerous time for their competition. Butler has simply found the magic that brought them inches away from a championship last year. Butler’s role players returned to the otherworldly level that they played on last year while two things changed in the lineup. Shelvin Mack took the place of Gordon Heyward as the team’s unquestioned star player/future NBA draft pick, and Andrew Smith stepped in as a true center moving foul-prone Matt Howard to the four-spot in the process. Now that Smith has began to embrace his role as a major contributor, Butler has started to role.

(3)CONNECTICUT VS (4)KENTUCKY
On the other end of the Final Four bracket, the blue bloods await. Connecticut has rode their prized stallion to the brink of topping some of the great championship performances in history. Where would Kemba Walker leading UConn to a national championship stand among the great individual championship seasons by the likes of Danny Manning and Carmelo Anthony. At the beginning of the year, Walker led a one-man team into the top ten of both polls, willing his team to upset victories with incredible scoring efforts. Later, after sputtering to a 9-9 record in the Big East, Kemba led a more mature group of Huskies to an unprecedented five-game run to the Big East Championship. Now, the Huskies find themselves in the Final Four, after the entire country has watched the full emergence of Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier, and Alex Oriakhi. The Huskies are no longer a one-man show. They have now proven to be one of the country’s best teams, instead of being an average team showcasing one of the country’s best players. Kentucky finally found the right mix of youth and experience to get to them to the final weekend. Much ado will be made about the freshman contributors such as Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, and Terrence Jones. However, what separates this team from Calipari’s previous pro-laden teams is the presence of veteran leadership that has been absent in the past. Juniors Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins give the Wildcats a sense of maturity that Calipari’s teams often lack. Josh Harrellson, the team’s only senior, has been one of the quietest difference-makers in the country. Harrellson went from barely touching the floor to being a starter and the ultimate glue guy for a team that usually is a role player or two short in March.

Is Jim Tressel Bullet-Proof?

Jim Tressel's five-game suspension has been the least talked about piece of important news in sports recently. Is the Ohio State head football coach getting enough criticism for this incident? Tressel essentially knowingly allowed his players to break NCAA rules for nine months and did nothing to stop them. When they were caught, he never made mention of the fact that he knew what they were doing. It was later found out that he did in fact know of the violations. This sounds almost similar to the situation that may ultimately result in Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl losing his job. Why is Tressel hardly being criticized for what many people would view as blatant disregard for the rules. The reactions of both the media and college football fans have really puzzled me since this story broke. Remember when we found out Bill Bilicheck was a cheater? Why has Tressel not received Spygate-type media attention for this fiasco that he allowed to take place for nearly an entire calander year? Are we allowed to talk bad about Jim Tressel?

What About the Girls?

The NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament completed its first round this weekend at various sites around the country. The field began with 64 teams and has now been cut down to 32 after two days of action. The women's tourney doesn't feature many first round upsets and doesn't begin to get competitive until the second round (which begins today). Here's a breakdown of what has happened so far and what we can look forward to in the next few weeks on the road to Indianapolis. 


BLOWOUT CENTRAL - The first round of the women's tournament doesn't produce a lot of great games like the men's tournament, but some of the blowouts are absolutely epic...

• Tennessee took out Stetson 99-34. The Lady Volunteers led by 35 at halftime and never let up.
• Duke downed Tennessee-Martin 90-45. Duke only led by 10 at the half before outscoring UTM 49-14 in the second half.
• Connecticut eliminated in-state rival Hartford with a 75-39 beating. This margin of victory is a little bit low for Uconn's high standards.
• Texas A&M absolutely drilled McNeese State 87-47. The Aggies led 41-15 at the half and obviously didn't slow down in the second half.
• Baylor didn't score a lot against Prairie View A&M, but the Panthers barely scored at all. The Lady Bears won 66-30, but PVAM had to rally to get those 30 points after going to halftime down 36-8.

WELL, THEY ALMOST PULLED OFF AN UPSET - On the women's side of things, upsets don't happen very often. That's why we appreciate the teams that keep it close...

• Hampton took Kentucky to overtime before falling 66-62 in the most thrilling upset bid of the weekend.
• Green Bay has only lost one game all year, but the Phoenix was close to losing their first game of the NCAA's. Arkansas-Little Rock tested Green Bay until the final minute before falling 59-55.
• Northern Iowa had a chance to tie the game on their final possession but couldn't convert, allowing Michigan State the opportunity to escape with a 69-66 victory.

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, CINDERELLA HAS ARRIVED - Only three double-digit seeds advanced to the second round. Two of them where 10-seeds, the third team is...

• The Gonzaga Bulldogs have out-grown their mid-major label on the men's side of the gym, but the ladies are working to rid themselves of that tag as well. The 11-seeded Zags took out Iowa 92-86 behind future pro Courtney Vandersloot's career high 34 points and now look to extend their tourney run into the second weekend. The Bulldogs are the lowest remaining seed in the field but they don't have the look of an underdog. They look as if they have just as much of an outside shot at the Final Four as every other team outside of the top 8 overall seeds.   

The women's tournament may not possess as much pizazz as the men's tourney, but the ladies definitely know how to play, and the tournament picks up a lot of intensity in the later rounds. The Final Four could be one of the best ever if all four top seeds make it through.

Only The "Sweet Sixteen" Remain

After one week of NCAA tournament action, only 16 teams still have a chance to cut down the nets two weeks from today in Houston.  The tournament was as thrilling as ever, with all the upsets and buzzer-beaters that one would expect in March. Here's a rundown of what happened and what's left to come. 

THE UPSETS - The teams that shocked the world and ruined brackets nationwide...

• Virginia Commonwealth was a controversial invitee to the Big Dance, but they have made the most of their appearance. As of today, the Rams have won more games than any other team remaining in the field (three) after starting their tournament journey in the "First Four" promotional gimmick games. VCU has already sent home USC, Georgetown, and Purdue, and will face an unlikely opponent that will be featured later in this list. The Rams did not even watch Selection Sunday as a team, having no idea that they would be invited to the NCAA Tournament, but they have justified their questionable inclusion by proving to be a very difficult team to send home.
• VCU's Sweet Sixteen opponent will be Florida State. The Seminoles throttled Notre Dame on their way to the tournament's second weekend.  The 'Noles have plenty of NBA-type talent on their roster, and they finally played like it against the Irish. Now FSU finds themselves two wins away from one of the most unexpected Final Four runs in recent memory. 
• Richmond was a popular upset pick but that didn't make their first round victory over Vanderbilt any less impressive. After benefitting from a broken bracket, the Spiders played their second game as a 12-seeded home team against Morehead State. Richmond handled the Eagles impressively, but now must face Kansas in Sweet Sixteen. 
• Morehead State won't be dancing next weekend, but the Eagles left their mark on the bracket by ridding the tournament of fourth seeded Louisville in thrilling fashion before bowing out to a hot-shooting Richmond team two days later.  
• Marquette got past Xavier in a game that people didn't think of as an actual upset, but the Golden Eagles definitely became a Cinderella story after they defeated Syracuse to make the Sweet Sixteen. Now Marquette will meet North Carolina for a spot in the Elite Eight.
• The Butler has done it again. For the second year in a row, the Bulldogs knocked off a top seed from the Big East to advance in the NCAAs. Last year Syracuse took the fall, but this year it was Pittsburgh who had their run cut short in a wild and controversial ending. Butler has an excellent shot at reaching the Final Four for a second straight year, a concept that nearly seems unfathomable when you look at the resources afforded to the tiny school from the Horizon League.

THE BUZZER-BEATERS AND NEAR MISSES - These were the games that make March a month of Madness...

• Freshman Brandon Knight dropped a driving lay-in to lift Kentucky over Princeton 59-57, killing the potential for one of this tournament's biggest and unlikeliest upsets.
• Georgia guard Travis Leslie couldn't knock down an off balance three to force overtime against Washington. The Huskies survived 68-65.
• Derrick Williams swatted Wesley Witherspoon in the final seconds to preserve a 77-75 victory for Arizona over Memphis. 
• Juan Fernandez buried a leaning jumper with .4 seconds left to send Temple past in-state rival Penn State 66-64. 
• Vanderbilt could only manage a desperation heave from Rod Odom in the final seconds against Richmond. The "Hail Mary" heave was ultimately a prayer unanswered and Vandy went went home early again, this time by the score of 69-66.
• Morehead State decided before the game that if they trailed by two in the final seconds, they would go for the win against fourth seeded Louisville. The Eagles didn't back down from that decision in the final moments. Demonte Harper drilled a triple with four seconds left to secure the 62-61 win in what has so far been the biggest and most exciting upset of the tournament. 
• After a play that featured mostly mass panic and chaos for the Butler Bulldogs, Matt Howard laid in a loose ball that was batted into his waiting hands with just a second remaining. The ball filled the cylinder as time expired, giving Butler the 60-58 victory and crushing Old Dominion.
• Michigan State came back from 23 points behind to give UCLA quite the scare before Kalin Lucas traveled on his half court buzzer-beating attempt. The shot wasn't close, but Lucas traveled first. The Bruins barely escaped with a 78-76 victory.
• Controversy marred the ending of Washington's loss to North Carolina. Referees failed to make sure that the clock was correct before Washington attempted to tie the game on the final possession. The Huskies, down three, got an off balanced look at the basket from Isaiah Thomas  in the .5 seconds that were alotted to them that fell short. Video replay later confirmed that well over a full second should have remained on the clock for the final play. The referees of the game claimed that they would have checked the clock if they had been asked by the UW bench. Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar told the media that he did ask the refs about the clock and was told that the clock had already been checked. We'll never know what the outcome of this game would have been if Thomas could have gotten the ball with the proper time remaining on the clock.
• Michigan point guard Darius Morris missed a runner on his team's final position, failing to fully complete a 15 point second-half comeback. Duke would hold on to beat the Wolverines 73-71 in one of the best games of the tournament so far.
• Arizona got a three-point play from Derrick Williams in the final seconds before smothering Texas on their final possession and escaping with a 70-69 win over the Longhorns.
• The best finish this tournament has seen so far came from Butler and Pittsburgh, due to their final second fouling spree in DC. After Butler took a one-point lead on a well executed play. Butler's Shelvin Mack fouled Gilbert Brown with two seconds remaining. Brown would split the free throws, but after missing the second attempt, Nasir Robinson inexplicably hacked Butler's Matt Howard as he secured the rebound. Howard nailed a free throw to give the Bulldogs a 71-70 win.

THE BRACKET - These are the 16 teams that remain on the road to the Final Four...

EAST REGIONAL (Newark, NJ) 
(1)Ohio State
(4)Kentucky

(2)North Carolina
(11)Marquette

WEST  REGIONAL (Anaheim, CA)
(1)Duke
(5)Arizona

(2)San Diego State
(3)Connecticut

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL (San Antonio, TX)
(1)Kansas
(12)Richmond

(10)Florida State
(11)Virginia Commonwealth

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL (New Orleans, LA)
(2)Florida
(3)Brigham Young

(4)Wisconsin
(8)Butler

Jalen Rose and Jimmy King Talk Duke and the Fab Five

Jalen Rose and Jimmy King, two members of the famous Michigan Fab Five were on ESPN's First Take recently addressing some of the points brought up in their ESPN documentary (which Rose produced). Rose and King's controversial criticisms of the Duke basketball program led to this letter from former Duke All-American Grant Hill being printed on the New York Times' college basketball blog. During the documentary, King and Rose called Hill both a "bitch" and a "Uncle Tom". Both players have stressed that these were their feelings as teenagers and are not indicative of how they view him now as adults.  

The Presidential Bracket

For the second year in a row, President Barack Obama spent some time with ESPN's Andy Katz to fill out his NCAA Tournament bracket. The president has proven to be a pretty knowledgeable sports fan in the past, but does the Oval Office contain any information we should know about March Madness this year?

The March Madness Round One Mega Post

March Madness is finally here. The 68 teams that will participate have been announced, and they will soon be off to their destinations. This post will cover all aspects of the tournament. The snubs, the upsets, and the marquee matchups -- it will all be here. Let's take a deep breath, and jump right in. There's plenty to breakdown. This is the biggest tournament field in history.


THE SNUBS

• Virginia Tech - The Hokies are once again heartbroken on Selection Sunday, but this time I don't think V-Tech has too much to complain about. Seth Greenberg's team was swept by a undermanned  Virginia team, dropped a game to Georgia Tech, and loss their two final regular season games to a pair of ACC bubble teams (Boston College and Clemson). This team had good wins, but their losses were crippling.   
• Colorado - The Buffs have to be sick that they aren't in the field. They beat Kansas State three times, along with taking down Texas and Mizzou. The losses to San Francisco, Oklahoma, and Iowa State ultimately left them at home. I would assume that CU coach Tad Boyle will be putting a little more effort into his non-conference scheduling in the future. Games against Georgia and Harvard (both losses by the way) were not enough to carry a 10-9 Big 12 record. 
• St. Mary's - The Gaels have to be the most confused team after tonight. They have good wins, a strong RPI, and one terrible loss (San Diego). Apparently, the selection committee decided that there wasn't enough room in the tournament for both Utah St. and St. Mary's. The BracketBuster loss to the Aggies ended up doing the Gaels in. Still, most people thought St. Mary's was a lock to get in. 
• Harvard - It's not very fair that the Crimson didn't even get considered for an at-large birth. They beat two bubble teams (Colorado and Boston College) and split with Princeton, but then again, Harvard could have earned an automatic bid by simply avoiding a loss to Yale. 
• Boston College - The Eagles had plenty of decent wins and only one bad loss (Yale), but there was no eye-catching win in the profile. Texas A&M was a good win, but the Aggies proved to not be the top 15 team that people thought they were. This left BC with nothing to hang their hat on. 
• Alabama - The Tide played Seton Hall, Iowa, and Providence in the non-conference this year, these aren't teams that will kill your RPI...unless you lose to all of them like Alabama did. Another word of advice for Anthony Grant, scheduling a SWAC team is like feeding rat poison to your RPI. The Tide fed themselves two doses (Alabama A&M, Florida A&M). Playing Toledo didn't help either (the Rockets finished 3-28).  

THE QUESTION MARKS  

• UAB - The Blazers won a whopping ZERO games against the RPI Top 50. Why are they in the tournament?   
• VCU - The Rams have a decent profile. Wins over UCLA, George Mason, and Old Dominion are impressive, but the Rams don't compare favorably to teams like Colorado and St. Mary's.  

EAST REGIONAL

(1)Ohio State vs (16)Texas San Antonio/Alcorn State

Neither of these teams have a chance in H-E-double hockey sticks of competing with Ohio State. NEXT GAME PLEASE!

(8)George Mason vs (9)Villanova

George Mason had a great season and got a terrible draw by landing Villanova in the first round. The Wildcats have definitely been struggling, but they have too much talent to drop a first round game to Mason. 

(5)West Virginia vs (12)UAB/Clemson

I expect Clemson to take out UAB and solidify the Blazers' status as the worst at-large bid ever. The 'Neers shouldn't have too much trouble with Clemson, the Tigers are a perfect example of the mediocrity that will be evident throughout this year's first round.

(4)Kentucky vs (13)Princeton

Princeton is a solid team, but the four-seeds in this tournament uncharacteristically talented teams. A team that is dripping with athleticism like Kentucky won't be upset by a backdoor cutting team from Princeton. 

(6)Xavier vs (11)Marquette

Upset Alert!!! Marquette and Xavier is one of the best games the first weekend has to offer. This game will be extremely physical, and a hard fought battle. Unfortunately for the X, Marquette has proven too many times that they can scrap out wins against the country's best teams.

(3)Syracuse vs (14)Indiana State

Unless Larry Bird finds a time machine that restores youth and NCAA eligibility, the Sycamores are going to get blitzed by the Orange.

(7)Washington vs (10)Georgia

How weird is it that the Pac-10 tournament champion is playing in a 7-10 matchup? The Huskies will have a tough time with the Dawgs, but their guards she provide the difference. Suspended UW guard Venoy Overton has been reinstated and he will play for the Huskies.

(2)North Carolina vs (15)Long Island

Long Island could have given a team some trouble if they could have entered the tournament as a 14-seed. Unfortunately, they didn't. Now the Blackbirds face an impossible task. Just try to keep it close LIU.

WEST

(1)Duke vs (16)Hampton

Duke's going to win.

(8)Michigan vs (9)Tennessee

Michigan can beat any team in the country when they are hitting threes. Tennessee can beat any team in the country if they simply stay focused. I give the advantage to Tennessee. There's a slight chance that Bruce Pearl will not be coaching the Vols next year, it's important that his team gives a good showing in order to belabor the point that Bruce is worth the impending NCAA trouble that will come after the season as a result of his previous actions.

(5)Arizona vs (12)Memphis

This is one of the best matchups in the entire field. These two teams will score a ton of points and play a very fast paced game. Derrick Williams of Arizona may be the one problem that Memphis won't be able to solve inside, as I expect the 'Cats to come out on top after a thrilling contest.

(4)Texas vs (13)Oakland

Going into the tournament, Oakland was a trendy 13-seed upset pick (if those even exist). Now, despite the talents of future NBA player Keith Benson, the Golden Grizzlies chances seem dim with Texas paired up with them in the bracket. Seriously, look at the 4-seeds in this tournament! How did one seed line get so stacked?

(6)Cincinnati vs (11)Missouri

Mizzou is my candidate to break 100 points in a game that doesn't include a seed in the teens. The Bearcats dont have the shooting to keep up with the rapid offensive flow of the Tigers. Missouri will control tempo and score, while Cincy will settle for bad shots, and go home early. Im predicting my second 6-11 upset in as many regions.

(3)Connecticut vs (14)Bucknell

The funny thing about this game is that if Kemba Walker didn't play, Bucknell may be the better team of the two, but Walker is playing and Bucknell doesn't have a shot as long as he is.

(7)Temple vs (10)Penn State

Temple is, by far, a better team than Penn State. However, Talor Battle is the type of player that could see a lot of face time in the "One Shining Moment" video three weeks from now. The Nittany Lions are playing too well, and are too happy to even be dancing to go home early. Teams like Penn State, that are playing with nothing to lose, are extremely dangerous in the early rounds of the tournament. Temple goes down against a Penn State team that will be gambling with the house's money all weekend. 

(2)San Diego State vs (15)Northern Colorado

San Diego State is miffed by the fact that so many people were critical of their seed in this tournament. Look for the Aztecs to make an example out of Northern Colorado. When a seed this high has motivation to play from the opening tip, the lower seeded opponent ends up getting blown out the gym. 

SOUTHWEST

(1)Kansas vs (16)Boston

I am trying really hard to find some sort of statistic or fact that would make one of these 1-16 games interesting, but I just can't find anything, and I don't want to make anything up. That's just bad journalism. Kansas will win by a lot, even though Boston is probably the best 16-seed in the tourney.

(8)UNLV vs (9)Illinois

This game should be called the Lon Kruger classic. Kruger shaped both of these programs into perennial conference title contenders. Subsequently, the two teams' style of play is still very similar to each other's. This game may look like an intense scrimmage between two of the same team. Luckily, both teams will be wearing uniforms. I like the athletic, gritty, rebounding team in orange and blue to beat the athletic, gritty, rebounding team in red and black. This is one of the tournaments biggest toss ups.

(5)Vanderbilt vs (12)Richmond

It just isn't March without a five knocking out a 12 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Have no fear because Richmond is here, and Vandy may never know what hit them. Richmond has excellent guard play and will be able to match John Jenkins shot for shot. The Spiders' Kevin Anderson is the primary marksman who will try to out-duel Jenkins from beyond the arch.

(4)Louisville vs (13)Morehead State

Morehead State was a team that I expected to be able to really push their opponent as a 13-seed. This was before I knew that the tournament's 4-seeds were all going to be legit title contenders. Kenneth Faried will still have a dominant impact on the glass for Morehead, but I can't see Louisville losing in the first round fresh off of a Big East Championship game appearance.

(6)Georgetown vs (11)VCU/USC

I don't think VCU should have been in the tournament. They got one of my two question marked bids for this tournament, but now that they are here, I like their draw. I expect VCU to sneak past a very young USC team, before eventually beating Georgetown as well. The Hoyas stumbled into the NCAA tournament this year, and I believe they will be sent packing early once again. I don't trust Georgetown in the postseason.

(3)Purdue vs (14)St. Peter's

If Purdue makes it to the building on time, they will win the game and send St. Peter's home. However, St. Pete's has plenty on their side. Their campus is located in Jersey City, and I'm sure those players are trying to stay off campus for as long as possible before they get back.

(7)Texas A&M vs (10)Florida State

This game matches two of the most inconsistent teams in the country. Both teams have had runs where they look amazing, and they also have had stretches where they look as if they don't belong in the tournament. I'm picking Texas A&M based off their talent and the possibility of them turning into a Top 15 team again.    

(2)Notre Dame vs (15)Akron 

Don't laugh when you read this, but the MAC Champs from Akron will have a good shot against Notre Dame. I won't sit here and predict the Irish to lose, but Akron has the the size to deal with the Fighting Irish in the paint. The Zips probably won't have an answer for Ben Hansbrough, and that's why I wont call for an upset.

SOUTHEAST
(1)Pittsburgh vs (16)North Carolina-Asheville/Arkansas-Little Rock
If it means anything, Little Rock will probably win the play-in game, but neither team will be able to provide a challenge to Pitt. This will not be the year that a top seed loses to a 16-seed.

(8)Butler vs (9)Old Dominion
It's a shame that two of the most talented mid-majors in this tournament will be playing each other in the first round. Both of these teams advanced past the first round last year (obviously, Butler went all the way to the the final). This will be one of the best games of the first round. Both teams are extremely talented and well coached, but Butler has more big game experience, and an enough talent and toughness to advance once again. This is another toss up game that could go both ways.

(5)Kansas State vs (12)Utah State
K-State is one of the hottest teams entering this tournament, and Utah State is seemingly always on a long winning streak. The game will be close, but it will be important to remember that Utah State doesn't play top competition regularly (not even in the non-conference schedule). The talent of the 'Cats will eventually overwhelm the Aggies, but not before Tai Wesley works out the K-State frontcourt.

(4)Wisconsin vs (13)Belmont
Wisconsin is unbeatable at home in Madison, but the Badgers won't be playing anymore games there this season. Away from home, Wisconsin could lose to a lot of teams in this tournament, Belmont included. The Bruins may actually be more athletic than Wisconsin, which is a rarity for a 4-13 contest. I've said previously that this is the strongest crop of 4-seeds that this tournament has seen, but I think Belmont is ripe to pull an upset over a Wisconsin team that is a totally different team on a neutral court.

(6)St. John's vs (11)Gonzaga
This is a very popular upset pick, especially among people that believe that the DJ Kennedy injury will cripple the Johnnies. I am not one of those people. The Red Storm are still a very dangerous team. Dwight Hardy is the type of scoring guard that can lead teams on long runs in the tournament, and the Storm's pressure defense will be nearly impossible to prepare for on short notice. Gonzaga will have a few mismatches on the inside against St. John's but they lack the type of scorer that the Red Storm have in Hardy. The Johnnies will be playing in Kennedy's honor, and they won't get sent home by the Zags.

(3)BYU vs (14)Wofford
The Cougars lost their chance to be a Final Four contender when Brandon Davie broke the honor code and was lost for the season. Still, BYU is a very talented team that will be able to get past Wofford. The game won't be a walkover though, as the Terriers have plenty of talented players that will test BYU on both ends of the court.

(7)UCLA vs (10)Michigan State
Michigan State has quite the reputation for turning up their play in the tournament, and after watching Sparty dismantle Purdue in the Big Ten tournament, the precedent has been set for how well this team can play. I think the Spartans got a great draw for this tournament, and I expect UCLA to play like deer in the headlights against an experienced Final Four team. Sparty will handle the Bruins rather easily, unless the bizzaro squad that got blown out by Iowa earlier this year shows up, but I doubt that happens.

(2)Florida vs (15)UC Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a perfect example of why conferences like the Big West should send their regular season champ to the big dance, and not the tournament champ. Long Beach State may have had a chance against the red hot gators, but UCSB does not. Florida will simply overwhelm the Gauchos.

OK, that was actually pretty exhausting, but AmStat will be back to do the same thing for round two. 

Bubble Watch: Conference Tournament Edition

The power conferences kick off their tournaments this week, which means bubble teams around the country will be gearing up to impress the selection committee one last time. Here's a list of teams that have some work to do if they plan to make the NCAA tournament. Since we're in conference tourney mode, we'll separate the teams by conference.


ACC
Boston College - The Eagles are hanging on by a thread at this point in the season. They may be the worst of the three ACC bubble teams, but they have the best RPI, and a series of good wins (beating Texas A&M early, and sweeping fellow bubble team Virginia Tech in conference). Still, the Eagles are a team I would like to see left at home on Sunday. They don't have the look of a team that can win a game in March Madness. Losing to Wake Forest would burst BC's bubble, but a win against Clemson would probably be enough to hear their name called on Sunday.
Clemson - The Tigers don't boast the most impressive profile. They don't have a single win over the RPI Top 25 (A win over RPI #24 Old Dominion would have been huge, but the Hokies lost by one), and they didn't play the toughest schedule (SOS #74). However, Clemson swept the two ACC teams on the bubble with them, and also have a solid win over Florida State. The Tiger's at-large hopes will come down to their meeting with BC on the second day of the ACC Tournament. Clemson/BC is essentially the NCAA's first play-in game.
Virginia Tech - The Hokies may have the WORST profile, but they have the BEST win. Despite being 0-3 against the aforementioned teams from BC and Clemson, the Hokies can hang their hat on a win against Duke, and some decent non-conference wins (Oklahoma State and Penn State). Beating Georgia Tech and Florida State may not lock the Hokies into the tournament, but a semifinal win against Duke would seal the deal. Of the three ACC bubble teams, Virginia Tech has the steepest hill to climb between now and Sunday.

BIG EAST
Marquette - There isn't really much of a bubble for the Big East. Marquette is a bubble team just because media types don't want to pencil in an eleventh Big East team that has 12 losses, but everyone who follows college basketball knows that the Golden Eagles will be dancing. With a .500 record in the best basketball conference ever assembled, and quality wins all over the schedule (West Virginia, Notre Dame, Uconn, and Syracuse!!!), this team is the bubble's most comfortable resident. However, a lost today against Providence could give Marquette fans a reason to worry.

BIG TEN
Illinois - ESPN.com has the Illini listed on their bubble watch, and surely they no more than I do about college basketball, but could Illinois really be left at home with 19 wins, an RPI in the thirties, and a SOS in the teens? Illinois isn't a bubble team, but they definitely are struggling, and they may not dance for long this year.
Michigan State - Sparty's spot on the bubble is much more legitimate. Tom Izzo's squad only has 16 wins and will be haunted by a blowout loss to Iowa and two losses to in-state rival Michigan. The Spartans can avenge their Iowa loss in the first round, and an upset of Purdue in round two would lock them in, but that doesn't look likely. I don't think a 64-team field would have room for Michigan State this year, but I have a feeling that a 68-team bracket just might.
Michigan - One of the most underrated factors considered by the selection committee is a teams recent performance. Recently, the Wolverines have been on fire, and the rest of college basketball has taken notice. Michigan had near misses early on against Kansas and Syracuse, and only have one head-scratching loss (Indiana). However, their 8-3 finish to the regular season means they are one of the few bubble teams that is currently impressing the committee. Michigan plays Illinois in their first game of the Big Ten Tournament. A win over the struggling Illini could punch their ticket, and a semifinal win over Ohio State would put them in position to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament as well. It's questionable as to whether the Wolves will get in if they lose to Illinois, but they are definitely one of the few bubble teams that can still be considered with a first round loss.

BIG 12
Colorado - The Buffs made it to .500 in the Big 12 and firmly stand in front of Nebraska and Baylor as the class of the Big 12's bubble teams. Colorado's sweep of Kansas State and the upset of Texas has the Buffs feeling like a bid is definitely possible, but they know that it will most likely take beating K-State for a third time to sleep comfortably going in to Selection Sunday.
Nebraska - It's this simple. Nebraska must beat Oklahoma State, which is easier said than done. Then they must beat Kansas the next day. If they manage to pull that off, they will have a chance, but at least it's a chance.
Baylor - ESPN thinks that Baylor's at-large hopes are dead, but I believe the Bears will pull it all together when it matters most. If Baylor streaks through Oklahoma, Texas, and then Texas A&M before losing in the Big 12 Championship game, the committee couldn't possibly pass them up at 20-13...could they?

PAC-10
USC - Similar to Michigan in the Big Ten, USC has came out of nowhere to suddenly become a very intriguing bubble team. The Trojans tore through the closing stretch of their season to finish 10-8 in the PAC-10, quietly building an impressive profile along the way. USC has beaten Texas, Tennessee, UCLA, Washington, and Arizona. There aren't many teams on the bubble that can present the committee with a better collection of wins. If USC can beat Arizona (for the second time) in the semis to get to 20 wins on the year, the Trojans will have a better case to make the field than most people think.

SEC
Georgia - The Bulldogs look like a team that should be in the tournament, but whenever your school is absent from Joe Lunardi's Bracketology update in the final week of the season, you have plenty to be nervous about. Georgia's RPI and SOS reside in the thirties, and the Dawgs have a few wins that look good on paper (Kentucky, Tennessee, UAB, and Colorado), but the profile definitely lacks depth despite being co-signed by the RPI. Georgia will most likely move into the bracket as teams inevitably falter in the final week. Georgia could become a lock with a win over Alabama in the quarterfinals.
Alabama - The Tide rolled through the SEC, but did absolutely nothing worth noting in the non-conference season. A gaudy record in the weak SEC, and three good wins may not be enough to put Bama in the bracket. The Tide will likely play Georgia in a must-win quarterfinal game, and it wouldn't hurt to beat Kentucky for a second time in the semis as well. Alabama is the SEC West champ, but this could be the second year in a row that that distinction means nothing for a team on Selection Sunday (last year, Mississippi State won the West and didn't dance.)

Outside the Power Six

• Butler, Utah State, and Richmond are all in good shape for at-large births if they do not win their conference tournaments. This year, the bubble has been very forgiving to teams with impressive Win/Loss records
• UAB cannot afford a loss until the championship game of the Conference USA Championship game if they want a chance at an at-large bid. This means they MUST beat Memphis in the semifinals.
• Temple, George Mason, Gonzaga (auto-bid), BYU, San Diego State, UNLV, Xavier, and (surprise!) St. Mary's are all locks for the tournament. 

Enjoy one of the best months in sports. Look out for bracket previews next week.

March Madness Begins Now!

March Madness officially begins today, as three (possibly four) teams will qualify for the "Big Dance" tonight, while bubble teams across the country will decide their fate in the final weekend of the regular season.

• Coastal Carolina (28-4) will host UNC-Asheville (18-13) with the Big South Championship on the line at 4pm on ESPN2.
• Belmont (29-4) and North Florida (15-18) meet in Macon, Georgia for the Atlantic Sun Championship at 6pm on ESPN2.
• Potential first round draft pick Kenneth Faried [pictured right] leads Morehead State (23-9) against Tennessee Tech (20-11) in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship at 8pm on ESPN2.   
• The Ivy League does not play a conference tournament, but the league's two best teams meet tonight. Harvard (22-5) hosts Princeton (23-5) at 7pm on ESPN3. Princeton will win the Ivy with a win, but a loss will most likely lead to an Ivy League Championship tie-breaker game between the same two teams.

Here's a quick preview of what lies ahead in each conference between now and next Sunday when the NCAA Bracket will be announced. 

• The ACC Tournament will be held in Greensboro, NC March 10-13. Look forward to seeing a third meeting between Duke and North Carolina. The two teams are clearly the class of the conference during this down year.
• The America East Tournament is already underway in Hartford with one team having already advanced to the semifinals (Stony Brook). Vermont is the tourney's top seed, but the second seeded Boston is the popular pick to win the bid.
• The Atlantic 10 Tournament will be March 8-13 in Atlantic City. Temple seems to win this tournament every year, and they are the strong favorites yet again. They will probably see a very talented Xavier squad in the finals.
• The Big 12 Tournament will be March 9-12 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. Texas and Kansas seem to be on a collision course for the finals, but the league's bubble teams could steal the show (and maybe even steal the tourney) with a few upsets. Nebraska, Colorado, Baylor, and Oklahoma St will all be trying to play their way in to the NCAA Tournament next weekend. The dance may not have enough invites for all of them.
• The most famous conference tournament of them all, the Big East Tournament, will be March 8-12 at Madison Square Garden. Pitt, Notre Dame, Syracuse (barring a loss to DePaul), and Louisville have the coveted double byes in the 16 team mega tournament. St. John's is the sleeper as a likely five seed playing on their home court.
• One of the smallest conference tournaments is held in Ogden, Utah. Only six teams make the trip for the Big Sky Tournament. Northern Colorado and Montana are the likely championship game participants. Northern Colorado is the top seed, but Montana already has a win against UCLA under their belt.
• The Big Ten Tournament will take place March 10-13 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Ohio St. is an obvious favorite, but Wisconsin and Purdue will be strong contenders as well. Those two teams combined to give the Buckeyes their only two losses of the year.
• The Big West Tournament is March 10-12 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Long Beach State, led by former Gonzaga and Minnesota coach Dan Monson, has dominated the league all year. I don't expect to see anything different in the conference tournament. 
• The CAA Tournament is going on as I type. George Mason is already in the semis, and they will meet the winner of the VCU/Drexel game that is being played now. Mason is the top seed, and one of the hottest teams in the country, but the CAA often produces one of the more surprising and entertaining conference tournaments in the country. The conference's top five teams all have a legitimate shot to win the tournament. 
• The Conference USA Tournament will be March 9-12 on campus at UTEP, and it is expected to be absolute bedlam. After a stretch of squandered opportunities by bubble teams, the C-USA is probably a one bid league, as all of the conference's bubble teams are projecting to be left out of the at-large conversation. UAB, UTEP, Memphis, UCF, and Southern Miss all played their way out of the tournament. Now they all have one last shot to get in. The one thing that is certain is that the NIT will have several representatives from this league.
• The top four seeds have advanced in the Horizon League Tournament. The semifinals will be played later this evening. Butler and Cleveland State will take the floor first in the more anticipated of the two games. The second semifinal between Milwaukee and Valparaiso will be televised on ESPNU at 8:30pm. The championship game will be March 8th.
• The MAAC Tournament is also underway currently in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Fairfield and Rider are the favorites to meet in the finals. Iona will also provide strong competition behind their star player, Mike Glover.
• The MAC Tournament will take place March 8-12 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Fittingly, the tournament seems to belong to two Ohio teams for the taking. Kent State and Akron seem to be the league's two strongest teams. Ball State, has a player in forward Jarrod Jones that is talented enough to take them on a long run.
• The MEAC Tournament will be March 7-12 in Winston Salem. Bethune-Cookman is the top seed, but Hampton is the tourney favorite as the two seed.
• "Arch Madness", the nickname for the Missouri Valley Tournament is well underway in St. Louis. Semifinal action is being played now. Missouri State and Wichita State expect to meet in the finals, but Creighton is an experienced team that could knock off Missouri St. in the semis.
• The Mountain West Tournament will be March 8-12 at UNLV. Don't be too quick to pencil in BYU and San Diego St. into the Championship game. UNLV, New Mexico, and Colorado State are all very talented teams. Plus, BYU has yet to prove that they can win a game without the inside presence of Brandon Davies. San Diego St. has also struggled against the conference's second tier.
• The NEC Tournament continues tomorrow. Top-seeded Long Island looks to continue its dream season and coast into the NCAA Tournament.
• The Pac-10 Tournament hits Hollywood March 9-12 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The mediocrity of the conference gives the tournament a special caveat. Anyone from top to bottom could win the tournament. Bubble teams will be keeping an eye on the Pac-10 to make sure a talented team like USC or Washington State doesn't come out of nowhere to steal a bid.
• Bucknell and American University seem destined to meet in the Patriot League Tournament final on March 11th. Both teams must get past one more opponent before they can set their sights on each other.
• The SEC Tournament is known for its funky seeding system and unpredictable outcomes. The only certainty is that the Georgia Dome will be rocking March 10-13. Kentucky and Tennessee both have the depth to be considered favorites in this event. Florida is also capable of beating anyone, but the health of their star player, Chandler Parsons, is uncertain.
• With perennial champion Davidson suffering through a down year, the Southern Conference Tournament is as wide open as it has ever been. The College of Charleston is the clear cut favorite. They feature the league's best coach (Bobby Cremins) and the league's best player in senior guard Andrew Goudelock. Still, up to four other teams have a realistic chance to win the SoCon tourney this year, especially last year's champs from Wofford. 
• The Southland Conference Tournament is one of the hardest tournaments to forecast every year. It is rare that the conference's best team emerges victorious, and upsets are so frequent that it's hard to even label them as such. The Southland is always one of the most evenly matched tournaments from top to bottom, and I wouldn't expect this year to be different. McNeese State looks to be the conference's best team, let's see if they make it to The Dance. I doubt they will.
• The SWAC Conference Tournament will be delivering another play-in game participant as usual. The tournament's final will be on March 12.
• The Summit League Tournament is Oakland's to lose. The Golden Grizzlies rolled through the Summit this year, and even beat Tennessee on the road earlier this season. If the Grizzlies take care of business starting today through Tuesday in Sioux Falls, the Grizzlies will be a scary first round opponent for one of the tournaments top 30 teams.Oakland has a legit NBA prospect in center Keith Benson, and one of the best coaches in America (Greg Kampe).
• The Sun Belt Tournament starts today in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The field is wide open as conference power Western Kentucky has gone through a rebuilding year. Former St. John's coach Mike Jarvis has built Florida Atlantic into a winner, and they will be expected to contend for the Belt's automatic bid.
• The WCC and WAC conference tournaments have the exact same storyline. Bubble teams will fall to their knees every night before bed, praying that either St. Mary's or Gonzaga wins the WCC and that Utah State wins the WAC. These are the two most obvious bid stealing situations coming into Championship Week. San Francisco and Santa Clara in the WCC, along with Boise State and Hawaii in the WAC, could leave a few bubble teams crying on Selection Sunday.

Enjoy Championship Week, it is truly one of the best weeks on the college sports calender.