Conference Tournament Season is getting into full swing this weekend with a slew of conferences taking to the court. In these five conferences I am previewing today only a loss by Siena in the MAAC Tournament could have some implications on a possible at-large bid, after that everyone else is playing for an automatic berth to the big dance.
America East (QF and SF @ Hartford, Final @ Highest Seed)
Seeds: (1) Stony Brook (2) Vermont (3) Maine (4) Boston U. (5) Hartford (6) New Hampshire (7) UMBC (8) Albany
2009 Tournament Champion: Binghamton (Lost to Duke in NCAA 1st Round)
Game Schedule:
Saturday: (1) Stony Brook vs. (8) Albany, (2) Vermont vs. (7) UMBC, (3) Maine vs. (6) New Hampshire, (4) Boston U. vs. (5) Hartford
Sunday: Semifinals
Next Saturday: Final
The attention given to this year's version of Am. East tourney is negative with Binghamton deciding to pull out of the tournament. Bearcats' fans and students protested the administration's decision to take out the defending champion but it was to no avail. This gives UMBC and Albany a chance to play in the quarterfinals instead of facing each other in the play-in game.
NEC (All games @ Higher Seed)
Seeds: (1) Quinnipiac (2) Robert Morris (3) Mt. St. Mary's (4) LIU (5) FDU (6) St. Francis (PA) (7) Central Connecticut St. (8) Monmouth
2009 Tournament Champion: Robert Morris (Lost to Mich. St. in NCAA 1st Round)
Game Schedule:
Thursday: (1) Quinnipiac vs. (8) Monmouth (2) Robert Morris vs. (7) Cent. CT St. (3)Mt. St. Mary's vs. (6) St. Francis (PA) (4) LIU vs. (5) FDU
Sunday: Semifinals
Wednesday: Final
The race for the automatic berth is between the top three with Robert Morris looking to repeat as champion.
Colonial Athletic Association (Richmond, VA)
Seeds: (1) Old Dominion (2) Northeastern (3) William & Mary (4) George Mason (5) VCU (6) Drexel (7) Hofstra (8) Towson (9) UNCW (10) Georgia St. (11) James Madison (12) Delaware
2009 Tournament Champion: VCU (Lost in NCAA 1st Round to UCLA)
Game Schedule:
Friday: (8) Towson vs. (9) UNCW, (5) VCU vs. (12) Delaware, (7) Hofstra vs. (10) Georgia State, (6) Drexel vs. (11) James Madison
Saturday: Quarterfinals
Sunday: Semifinals
Monday: Final
Just like many mid-major conferences, the CAA will only have one team getting into the tournament but the conference has a history of pulling upsets in the big dance, most notably was George Mason making the Final Four as an 11 seed in 2006.
MAAC (Albany, NY)
Seeds: (1) Siena (2) Fairfield (3) Iona (4) St. Peter's (5) Rider (6) Niagara (7) Canisius (8) Loyola, MD (9) Manhattan (10) Marist
2009 Tournament Champion: Siena (Beat Ohio St. in NCAA 1st Round, Lost to Louisville in NCAA 2nd Round)
Game Schedule:
Friday: (7) Canisius vs. (10) Marist, (8) Loyola vs. (9) Manhattan
Saturday: Quarterfinals
Sunday: Semifinals
Monday: Final, 7:00, ESPN2
Siena has been the top team all season and has an outside chance at an at-large bid if they get upset but will have to get alot of help from bubble teams in the BCS conferences to get in.
SoCon (Charlotte, NC)
Seeds: North Division: (1) Appalachain St. (2) Western Carolina (3) Chattanooga (4)NC-Greensboro (5) Samford (6)Elon South Division (1) Wofford (2) Charleston (3) Davidson (4) The Citadel (5) Furman (6) Georgia Southern
2009 Tournament Champion: Chattanooga (Lost to UConn in NCAA 1st Round)
Game Schedule:
Friday: (3N) Chattanooga vs. (6S) Georgia Southern, (3S) Davidson vs. (6N) Elon, (4N) NC-Greensboro vs. (5S) Furman, (4S) The Citadel vs. (5N) Samford
Saturday: (1N) Appalachain St. vs. 4S/5N winner, (1S) Wofford vs. 4N/5S winner, (2N) Western Carolina vs. 3S/6N winner, (2S) Charleston vs. 3N/6S winner
Sunday: Semifinals
Monday: Final, 9:00, ESPN2
The Southern Conference is free from the shooting skill of Stephen Curry after he graduated last season from Davidson and is a wide open crapshoot with the four straight days of play. Last season, Chattanooga had a 18-16 regular season record and won the tournament.
College Hoopla Conference Tournament Preview Schedule:
Wednesday: Atlantic Sun, Big South, Ohio Valley, Missouri Valley
Today: America East, NEC, Colonial, MAAC, SoCon
Tommorrow: West Coast, Horizon, Summit, Sun Belt, Patriot
Monday: Big Sky, SWAC, Southland, MEAC, C-USA, WAC
Siena Basketball: Like this team?
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