The College Basketball Blog: Conference Tourney Predictions

Thank Darwin it's March!!!

There's no better time for a sports fan than March into April. Baseball is around the corner; the NBA season which is twice as long as it needs to be is finally turning the corner and heading down the stretch; Golf is back; NFL free agency is fast and furious and there's endless draft speculation; and most of all, the College Basketball regular season is winding down, which actually means that College Basketball is about to begin. The final key regular season games; the conference tournaments; selection Sunday; 3 days of filling out the brackets. And then finally, the best 4-day stretch of the year, the annual reward for being a sports fan, the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. And then of course the 2nd weekend of the tournament is the 2nd best 4-day stretch of the year. And it leads to the Final Four and the Championship Game. I can't wait to start seeing Greg Gumble's fat face 18 hours a day.

I'll be posting a lot of updates in the near future. For now, here are my Conference Tournament predictions. Obviously some have already begun or been completed but I didn't bother to post until all the fields were set.


2009 NCAA Conference Tournament Predictions

America East Conference
First Round
#8 Maine over #9 Hartford
Quarterfinals
#1 Binghamton over #8 Maine
#2 Vermont over #7 Albany
#3 Boston over #6 UMBC
#4 New Hampshire over #5 Stony Brook
Semifinals
#1 Binghamton over #4 New Hampshire
#2 Vermont over #3 Boston
Championship
#1 Binghamton over #2 Vermont

ACC
First Round
#5 Clemson over #12 Georgia Tech
#6 Boston College over #11 Virginia
#7 Maryland over #10 NC State
#9 Miami over #8 Virginia Tech
Quarterfinals
#1 UNC over #9 Miami
#2 Wake Forrest over #7 Maryland
#6 Boston College over #3 Duke
#4 Florida State over #5 Clemson
Semifinals
#1 UNC over #4 Florida State
#2 Wake Forrest over #6 Boston College
Championship
#1 UNC over #2 Wake Forrest

Atlantic Sun
First Round
#2 ETSU over #7 Stetson
#3 Belmont over #6 Mercer
#4 Lipscomb over #5 Campbell
Semifinals
#1 Jacksonville over #4 Lipscomb
#2 ETSU over #3 Belmont
Championship
#1 Jacksonville over #2 ETSU

Atlantic Ten Conference
First Round
#5 St. Joseph’s over #12 Charlotte
#6 Richmond over #11 St. Bonaventure
#7 Duquesne over #10 UMass
#8 LaSalle over #9 St. Louis
Quarterfinals
#1 Xavier over #8 LaSalle
#2 Rhode Island over #7 Duquesne
#3 Dayton over #6 Richmond
#4 Temple over #5 St. Joseph’s
Semifinals
#1 Xavier over #4 Temple
#3 Dayton over #2 Rhode Island
Championship
#1 Xavier over #3 Dayton

Big East Conference
First Round
#9 Cincinnati over #16 DePaul
#10 Notre Dame over #15 Rutgers
#11 Seton Hall over #14 South Florida
#12 Georgetown over #13 St. John’s
Second Round
#5 Marquette over #12 Georgetown
#6 Syracuse over #11 Seton Hall
#7 West Virginia over #10 Notre Dame
#8 Providence over #9 Cincinnati
Quarterfinals
#1 Louisville over #8 Providence
#2 Pittsburgh over #7 West Virginia
#3 UConn over #6 Syracuse
#4 Villanova over #5 Marquette
Semifinals
#1 Louisville over #4 Villanova
#2 Pittsburgh over #3 UConn
Championship
#2 Pittsburgh over #1 Louisville

Big Sky Conference
First Round
#3 Montana over #6 Montana State
#4 Idaho State over #5 Northern Colorado
Semifinals
#1 Weber State over #4 Idaho State
#2 Portland State over #3 Montana
Championship
#1 Weber State over #2 Portland State

Big South
Quarterfinals
#1 Radford over #8 Highpoint
#2 VMI over #7 Costal Carolina
#3 Liberty over #6 Gardner-Webb
#4 UNC-Ashville over #5 Winthrop
Semifinals
#1 Radford over #4 UNC-Ashville
#2 VMI over #3 Liberty
Championship
#1 Radford over #2 VMI

Big Ten Conference
First Round
#6 Penn State over #11 Indiana
#7 Michigan over #10 Iowa
#8 Minnesota over #9 Northwestern
Quarterfinals
#1 Michigan State over #8 Minnesota
#2 Illinois over #7 Michigan
#3 Purdue over #6 Penn State
#4 Wisconsin over #5 Ohio State
Semifinals
#1 Michigan State over #4 Wisconsin
#2 Illinois over #3 Purdue
Championship
#1 Michigan State over #2 Illinois

Big XII Conference
First Round
#5 Texas over #12 Colorado
#6 Texas A&M over #11 Texas Tech
#7 Oklahoma State over #10 Iowa State
#8 Nebraska over #9 Baylor
Quarterfinals
#1 Kansas over #8 Nebraska
#2 Oklahoma over #7 Oklahoma State
#3 Missouri over #6 Texas A&M
#4 Kansas State over #5 Texas
Semifinals
#1 Kansas over #4 Kansas State
#2 Oklahoma over #3 Missouri
Championship
#2 Oklahoma over #1 Kansas

Big West Conference
First Round
#8 UC Davis over #5 UC Irvine
#6 UC Riverside over #7 Cal State Fullerton
Second Round
#3 Pacific over #8 UC Davis
#4 UC Santa Barbara over #6 UC Riverside
Semifinals
#1 Cal State Northridge over #4 UC Santa Barbara
#2 Long Beach State over #3 Pacific
Championship
#1 Cal State Northridge over #2 Long Beach State

Colonial Athletic Association
First Round
#5 Hofstra over #12 UNC-Wilmington
#6 Drexel over #11 Towson
#7 James Madison over #10 William and Mary
#8 Georgia State over #9 Delaware
Quarterfinals
#1 VCU over #8 Georgia State
#2 George Mason over #7 James Madison
#3 Northeastern over #6 Drexel
#4 Old Dominion over #5 Hofstra
Semifinals
#1 VCU over #4 Old Dominion
#2 George Mason over #3 Northeastern
Championship
#1 VCU over #2 George Mason

Conference USA
First Round
#5 Houston over #12 SMU
#6 Central Florida over #11 Southern Miss
#7 Marshall over #10 Rice
#8 Tulane over #9 East Carolina
Quarterfinals
#1 Memphis over #8 Tulane
#2 Tulsa over #7 Marshall
#3 UAB over #6 Central Florida
#4 UTEP over #5 Houston
Semifinals
#1 Memphis over #4 UTEP
#3 UAB over #2 Tulsa
Championship
#1 Memphis over #3 UAB

Horizon League
First Round
#3 Cleveland State over #10 Detroit
#4 Wright State over #9 Valparaiso
#5 Wisconsin-Milwaukee over #8 Loyola-Illinois
#6 Youngstown State over #7 Illinois-Chicago
Second Round
#3 Cleveland State over #6 Youngstown State
#4 Wright State over #5 Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Semifinals
#1 Butler over #4 Wright State
#2 Wisconsin-Green Bay over #3 Cleveland State
Championship
#1 Butler over #2 Wisconsin-Green Bay

MAAC
First Round
#7 Iona over #10 Marist
#8 Loyola-MD over #9 Canisius
Quarterfinals
#1 Sienna over #8 Loyola-MD
#2 Niagara over #7 Iona
#3 Rider over #6 St. Peter’s
#4 Manhattan over #5 Fairfield
Semifinals
#1 Sienna over #4 Manhattan
#2 Niagara over #3 Rider
Championship
#1 Sienna over #2 Niagara

MAC
First Round
#5 Akron over #12 Toledo
#6 Kent State over #11 Northern Illinois
#10 Eastern Michigan over #7 Central Michigan
#8 Western Michigan over #9 Ohio
Quarterfinals
#1 Bowling Green over #8 Western Michigan
#10 Eastern Michigan over #2 Ball State
#6 Kent State over #3 Buffalo
#5 Akron over #4 Miami (OH)
Semifinals
#1 Bowling Green over #5 Akron
#6 Kent State over #10 Eastern Michigan
Championship
#6 Kent State over #1 Bowling Green

MEAC
First Round
#6 Bethune-Cookman over #11 Maryland-East Shore
#7 Hampton over #10 Delaware State
#9 Howard over #8 Florida A&M
Quarterfinals
#1 Morgan State over #9 Howard
#7 Hampton over #2 South Carolina State
#6 Bethune-Cookman over #3 Norfolk State
#4 North Carolina A&T over #5 Coppin State
Semifinals
#1 Morgan State over #7 Hampton
#4 North Carolina A&T over #6 Bethune-Cookman
Championship
#1 Morgan State over #4 North Carolina A&T

Missouri Valley Conference
First Round
#7 Wichita State over #10 Missouri State
#8 Drake over #9 Indiana State
Quarterfinals
#1 Northern Iowa over #8 Drake
#2 Creighton over #7 Wichita State
#3 Illinois State over #6 Evansville
#4 Bradley over #5 Southern Illinois
Semifinals
#1 Northern Iowa over #4 Bradley
#2 Creighton over #3 Illinois State
Championship
#1 Northern Iowa over #2 Creighton

Mountain West Conference
First Round
#8 Colorado State over #9 Air Force
Quarterfinals
#1 BYU over #8 Colorado State
#2 Utah over #7 TCU
#3 New Mexico over #6 Wyoming
#4 San Diego State over #5 UNLV
Semifinals
#1 BYU over #4 San Diego State
#3 New Mexico over #2 Utah
Championship
#1 BYU over #3 New Mexico

NEC
Quarterfinals
#1 Robert Morris over #8 St. Francis
#2 Mount St. Mary’s over #7 Wagner
#3 Sacred Heart over #6 Central Connecticut State
#4 Long Island over #5 Quinnipiac
Semifinals
#1 Robert Morris over #4 Long Island
#2 Mount St. Mary’s over #3 Sacred Heart
Championship
#1 Robert Morris over #2 Mount St. Mary’s

Ohio Valley Conference
Quarterfinals
#1 UT-Martin over #8 Tennessee Tech
#2 Austin Peay over #7 Eastern Illinois
#3 Murray State over #6 Tennessee State
#4 Morehead State over #5 Eastern Kentucky
Semifinals
#1 UT-Martin over #4 Morehead State
#2 Austin Peay over #3 Murray State
Championship
#1 UT-Martin over #2 Austin Peay

Pac Ten Conference
First Round
#7 Washington State over #10 Oregon
#8 Oregon State over #9 Stanford
Quarterfinals
#1 Washington over #8 Oregon State
#2 UCLA over #7 Washington State
#6 USC over #3 Cal
#4 Arizona State over #5 Arizona
Semifinals
#1 Washington over #4 Arizona State
#2 UCLA over #6 USC
Championship
#2 UCLA over #1 Washington

Patriot League
Quarterfinals
#1 American over #8 Lafayette
#2 Holy Cross over #7 Bucknell
#3 Navy over #6 Colgate
#4 Army over #5 Leigh
Semifinals
#1 American over #4 Army
#2 Holy Cross over #3 Navy
Championship
#1 American over #2 Holy Cross

SEC
First Round
#3W Mississippi State over #6E UGA
#3E Florida over #6W Arkansas
#4W Alabama over #5E Vanderbilt
#4E Kentucky over #5W Mississippi
Quarterfinals
#1W LSU over #4E Kentucky
#1E Tennessee over #4W Alabama
#2W Auburn over #3E Florida
#2E South Carolina over #3W Mississippi State
Semifinals
#1W LSU over #2E South Carolina
#1E Tennessee over #2W Auburn
Championship
#1W LSU over #1E Tennessee

Southern Conference
First Round
#3 Samford over #6 Furman
#3 College of Charleston over #6 UNC-Greensboro
#4 Appalachian State over #5 Georgia Southern
#4 Wofford over #5 Elon
Quarterfinals
#1 Davidson over #4 Appalachian State
#1 UT-Chattanooga over #4 Wofford
#2 Western Carolina over #3 College of Charleston
#2 The Citadel over #3 Samford
Semifinals
#1 Davidson over #2 Western Carolina
#1 UT-Chattanooga over #2 The Citadel
Championship
#1 Davidson over #1 UT-Chattanooga

Southland Conference
Quarterfinals
#1 Stephen F. Austin over #8 Southeast Louisiana State
#2 Nicholls State over #7 Texas State
#3 Sam Houston over #6 UT-San Antonio
#4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi over #5 UT-Arlington
Semifinals
#1 Stephen F. Austin over #4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
#2 Nicholls State over #3 Sam Houston
Championship
#1 Stephen F. Austin over #2 Nicholls State

SWAC
Quarterfinals
#1 Alabama State over #8 Alabama A&M
#2 Jackson State over #7 Texas Southern
#3 Prairie View over #6 Mississippi Valley State
#5 Southern over #4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Semifinals
#1 Alabama State over #5 Southern
#3 Prairie View over #2 Jackson State
Championship
#1 Alabama State over #3 Prairie View

Summit League
Quarterfinals
#1 North Dakota State over #8 Centenary
#2 Oral Roberts over #7 South Dakota State
#3 Oakland over #6 IPFW
#4 IUPUI over #5 Southern Utah
Semifinals
#1 North Dakota State over #4 IUPUI
#2 Oral Roberts over #3 Oakland
Championship
#1 North Dakota State over #2 Oral Roberts

Sun Belt Conference
First Round
#4 North Texas over #13 FAU
#5 Middle Tennessee State over #12 Arkansas State
#6 South Alabama over #11 New Orleans
#7 Denver over #10 ULM
#8 ULL over #9 FIU
Quarterfinals
#1 Western Kentucky over #8 ULL
#2 Arkansas-Little Rock over #7 Denver
#3 Troy over #6 South Alabama
#4 North Texas over #5 Middle Tennessee State
Semifinals
#1 Western Kentucky over #4 North Texas
#2 Arkansas-Little Rock over #3 Troy
Championship
#1 Western Kentucky over #2 Arkansas-Little Rock

West Coast Conference
First Round
#5 San Diego over #8 Loyola-Marymount
#6 Pepperdine over #7 San Francisco
Second Round
#3 Portland over #6 Pepperdine
#4 Santa Clara over #5 San Diego
Semifinals
#1 Gonzaga over #4 Santa Clara
#2 St. Mary’s over #3 Portland
Championship
#1 Gonzaga over #2 St. Mary’s

WAC
First Round
#8 Hawaii over #9 Fresno State
Quarterfinals
#1 Utah State over #8 Hawaii
#2 Nevada over #7 San Jose State
#3 Idaho over #6 Louisiana Tech
#4 Boise State over #5 New Mexico State
Semifinals
#1 Utah State over #4 Boise State
#2 Nevada over #3 Idaho
Championship
#2 Nevada over #1 Utah State