Greg Kampe's Oakland squad could be a tough out in the NCAA Tournament

SUMMIT LEAGUE: The Oakland Grizzlies are in complete control over this league, cruising through conference with only one loss. Greg Kampe’s squad is one of the best mid-majors in the country. They beat Tennessee and had near-misses against Illinois and Michigan State. A championship game against IUPUI or Oral Roberts may be difficult, but the winner of that game may be too tired to give Oakland a good run. Oakland will make a return trip to the dance.

SUN BELT: Unfortunately, it was another down year for the Sun Belt as it waits for Western Kentucky to get back on its feet. Florida Atlantic, almost by default, won the regular season with a 13-3 record, but this conference tournament will be wide open. Florida Atlantic is on the same side of the bracket as Western Kentucky and Louisiana-Lafayette, two teams that it lost to this season. For that reason, I’m going to give a team from the other side of the bracket, Arkansas State, the edge to get to the dance.

BIG SKY: Northern Colorado and Montana battled all year to see who would win the regular season title in the Big Sky. Northern Colorado eventually won out, but the one game difference shows how close the two teams are to each other. That one game also proved to be of paramount importance as the Bears won the right to host the conference tournament on their home court. That will prove to be the difference and Northern Colorado will go dancing.

MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC: Just about everybody expected Morgan State to run away with its fourth consecutive regular season title in the MEAC, but it didn’t work out that way. The Bears garnered the No. 4 seed in the tournament with Bethune-Cookman, Hampton and cross-town rival Coppin State finishing ahead of them. I think Morgan State will find itself in the finals again, but Hampton will be there to avenge a loss earlier this season.

Today’s Bracket Projections:

Last Four In: Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Butler, Washington State
First Four Out: Baylor, Memphis, Virginia Commonwealth, Michigan

Good for Games through 3/3

SOUTHWEST
1.Kansas vs 16.McNeese St/Bethune-Cookman Tulsa
8.UCLA vs 9.Michigan St
5.Connecticut vs 12.Missouri St Tampa
4.Kentucky vs 13.Princeton
6.Texas A&M vs 11.Florida St Washington, D.C.
3.Syracuse vs 14.Bucknell
7.George Mason vs 10.Marquette Washington, D.C.
2.Wisconsin vs 15.Murray St
WEST
1.Duke vs 16.Long Island Charlotte
8.Cincinnati vs 9.Utah St
5.Kansas St vs 12.Richmond Tampa
4.Florida vs 13.Belmont
6.West Virginia vs 11.St. Mary’s Denver
3.BYU vs 14.Wisconsin-Milwaukee
7.Tennessee vs 10.Washington Cleveland
2.Pittsburgh vs 15.Vermont
SOUTHEAST
1.Purdue vs 16.Coastal Carolina Chicago
8.Missouri vs 9.Gonzaga
5.St. John’s vs 12.Butler/Virginia Tech Tucson
4.San Diego St vs 13.Oakland
6.Vanderbilt vs 11.Illinois Tulsa
3.Texas vs 14.Fairfield
7.Temple vs 10.Boston College Charlotte
2.Louisville vs 15.Long Beach St
EAST
1.Ohio St vs 16.Northern Colorado/Texas Southern Cleveland
8.Villanova vs 9.Old Dominion
5.Georgetown vs 12.Washington St/Nebraska Tucson
4.Xavier vs 13.Charleston
6.Arizona vs 11.UAB Denver
3.North Carolina vs 14.Kent St
7.UNLV vs 10.Georgia Chicago
2.Notre Dame vs 15.Florida Atlantic

In Graphical Form