Who Will Be the Winners at This Year's Bracket Busters?

There is nothing like men's college basketball.

The players, pageantry, drama, showmanship, coaches and rabid fan bases makes NCAA Basketball one of sports' great entities.

With March Madness just around the corner, teams are vying for possible postseason berths. Although schools like North Carolina, Kansas, Duke and Kentucky are shoo-ins for the tournament,  what about the smaller conferences and their teams? Teams like Murray State, Iona, Cleveland State and Davidson have all been impressive this season. Murray State won its first 23 games before losing. And the Gaels of Iona have one the best trio's in the country in Scott Machado (pictured), Micheal Glover and Lamont "Mo Mo" Jones.

Both Iona and Murray State will be showcased this weekend in the 10th annual ESPN BracketBusters (sponsored by Sears). This year's BracketBuster edition will feature 71 games, 142 teams and 16 conferences on display. Thirteen games will be televised by ESPN and its sister networks (ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU).

If you like watching the mid-major programs in action, this weekend will be unlike any other for you. Fans and NBA executives will all be watching. With the emergence of Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks, pro scouts will definitely be watching. Lin played at Harvard (Ivy League) but went undrafted and was cut by the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets before catching on with the Knicks.

Here is a breakdown of eight of the best matchups of BracketBuster weekend.

Enjoy.

Northern Iowa at VCU

When: Friday (Feb. 17), 7 p.m. (EST)

TV: ESPN2

Players to watch: Northern Iowa: guard Anthony James (13.0 ppg), VCU: swingman Bradford Burgess (13.0 ppg)

Don't look now, but the VCU Rams are gaining steam.

After starting the season 3-3, head coach Shaka Smart (pictured) has the Rams in line for another NCAA tournament bid. VCU (22-6) has won 11 of its last 12 games, and is just one game behind both Drexel and George Mason for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association.

The Rams became media darlings last season in the tourney, beating perennial tournament teams Georgetown, Purdue and Kansas to reach the Final Four.

Their opponent, the Northern Iowa Panthers, plays in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Northern Iowa (17-11) has stumbled at times this season. However, the Panthers have come close to beating 12th-ranked Creighton twice, losing 63-60 and 65-62.

There are no star players that jump out at you on Northern Iowa's roster, but they are scrappy and will play tough.

Prediction: VCU has lost only one game on its home court this season and should continue the trend against the Panthers. Winner: VCU

Valparaiso at Loyola Marymount

When: Friday (Feb. 17), 9 p.m. (EST)

TV: ESPNU

Players to watch: Loyola Marymount: forward Drew Viney (16.3 ppg) and point guard Anthony Ireland (15.4 ppg & 4.8 apg), Valpariso: swingman Ryan Broekhoff (15.0 ppg & 8.5 rbg) and Kevin Van Wijk (14.3 ppg)

The Loyola Marymount Lions have a lot to be jumping up about.

Loyola (17-10) has beaten three Top-25 teams this season: UCLA (69-58), St. Louis (75-68) and St. Mary's (75-60). The win over West Coast Conference rival St. Mary's was much needed. The Lions had lost an earlier 71-64 game to the first-place Gaels. Loyola trails the Gaels by two games in the conference.

Valpariso (Crusaders) have surprised everyone in the Horizon League.

The Crusaders (19-9) leads the conference with a 12-4 record. They have already beaten Cleveland State twice. The Butler Bulldogs, who lost in the national championship the last two years, have struggled but have gotten back in contention.

Prediction: Valpariso likes to shoot the three (35 percent), and Loyola Marymount is one of the stingest against it (29.2 percent). Winner: Loyola Marymount

Drexel at Cleveland State

When: Saturday (Feb. 18), 11 a.m. (EST)

TV: ESPNU

Players to watch: Drexel: guard Frantz Massentz (13.8 ppg) and forward Samme Givens (11.6 ppg & 7.5 rbg), Cleveland State: guards Trevon Harmon (12.3ppg) and Jeremy Montgomery (11.1 ppg)

When you talk about underrated head coaches, Bruiser Flint's name should be mentioned.

Flint (pictured), in his 11th year as head coach of the Drexel Dragons, has done a terrific job this season. The former head coach of UMass (1996-2001) comes from the coaching tree of John Calipari (now with Kentucky).

Drexel (22-5) is tied for first place in the Colonial (CAA) with George Mason. The Dragons have won 14 straight and 20 of their last 21 games.

Defense is the name of the game with the Dragons. They are ranked fifth in the nation in points allowed per game (55.0) and second in the country in three-point field goal defense (26.9). Drexel set a team-record for least points allowed on Jan 4 against Towson State, winning 60-27.

The Cleveland State Vikings (20-7) are heading in the wrong direction. They have lost four straight games within the Horizon League, but are only a game and a half behind Valpariso for first place.

Cleveland State sent shockwaves throughout the country when it beat then seventh-ranked Vanderbilt (71-58). The Vikings are known for pulling off an upset in the NCAAs, but will have their hands full with Drexel.

Prediction: The Dragons defensive pressure will be too much to handle for the Vikings. Winner: Drexel

Wichita State at Davidson

When: Saturday (Feb.18), Noon (EST)

TV: ESPN2

Players to watch: Wichita State: center Garrett Stutz (14.3 ppg & 8.0 rbg) and guard Joe Ragland (13.2 ppg), Davidson: forwards De'Mon Brooks (15.7 ppg) and Jake Cohen (13.5 ppg).

This game between the Wichita State Shockers and the Davidson Wildcats is one of the better matchups in BracketBusters.

Both teams are leading their respective conferences with a 14-2 record—Wichita State leads Missouri Valley Conference while Davidson leads the Southern Conference.

The Wildcats looked impressive in their 80-74 win over ranked Kansas in mid-December. Davidson (20-6) also hung tough with the Vanderbilt Commodores before losing 87-83 earlier in the month.

Wichita State (23-4) has beaten two ranked teams this season: Creighton (89-68) and UNLV (89-70).

Stutz, a 7-footer, is a load on the inside (59 percent on field goals). Ragland is one of the better three-point shooters in the Missouri Valley.

Davidson have its own inside presence in the forward duo of Brooks and Cohen. Both players averages over six rebounds per game.

This game will come down to which team can shoot the ball better. Both average over 75 points a game. The Wildcats are third in the nation in free-throw percentage (78 percent). Davidson shoots better from behind the arc, but the Shockers allow teams to shoot only 29.8 percent from three-point range.

Prediction: Someone has to win this evenly-matched game, but the team that shoots the ball better will win. Winner: Wichita State

Akron at Oral Roberts

When: Saturday (Feb. 18), 2 p.m. (EST)

TV: ESPN2

Players to watch: Akron: center Zeke Marshall (3.2 bpg), Oral Roberts: Dominique Morrison (20.3 ppg)

Two of the best unknown players will be on the same court Saturday afternoon.

The Akron Zips (19-7) will counter with their 7-foot center Zeke Marshall (pictured) and the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles will do the same with smooth-shooting forward Dominique Morrison.

Marshall alters opponents shots near the basket with his shot-blocking ability. The junior is ranked eighth in the nation in blocked shots. Marshall frustrated the Mississippi State Bulldogs in early-November with five rejections in the Zips 68-58 win. NBA scouts will be watching Marshall closely.

In the case of Morrison. The 6-foot-6 senior has scored over 30-points three times this season. Morrison can shoot the deep ball with ease. His shooting has helped the Golden Eagles to a 24-5 record.

Morrison will find that shooting the three against Akron will be tough. The Zips allow only 28.5 percent from behind the arc, ranking 10th in the country in that department.

Prediction: The Golden Eagles have won 17 of 18 games, most in impressive fashion. Akron is the much-bigger team. Oral Roberts averages only 31 rebounds a game, but the Golden Eagles rely more on their shooting the basketball more. Winner: Akron

Nevada at Iona

When: Saturday (Feb. 18), 4 p.m. (EST)

TV: ESPN2

Players to watch: Nevada: guards Deonte Burton (14.9) and Malik Story (14.7); forward Olek Czyz (12.7), Iona: forward Micheal Glover (18.6 ppg & 9.3 rbg); guards Lamont "Mo Mo" Jones (16.1 ppg) and Scott Machado (9.9 apg-leads NCAA)

You will not find a better college basketball trio than the Iona Gaels triumvirate of Micheal Glover (pictured), Scott Machado and "Mo Mo" Jones. Machado is the most underrated point guard in college basketball, but NBA scouts have been closely courting him for two seasons. Glover is a workhorse on the low-block, converting 65 percent of his field goal attempts. Jones transferred from Arizona, via hardship, and has fit in nicely with Iona.

Iona (21-6) plays an up-tempo style of offense. The Gaels are second in the country behind North Carolina in scoring offense (83.2). They have eclipsed the 100-point mark four times this season.

The Nevada Wolf Pack (22-4) have dominated their opponents in the Western Athletic Conference this season, sporting a 10-1 record.

Forward Olek Czyz has improved his game since transferring from Duke. The same thing with Malik Story, who left Indiana after his freshman season.

Prediction: Iona wants to make its opponents play fast. Nevada is the opposite. However, this matchup will come down to which team wants it the most. The Gaels have lost only one game on their homecourt all season. Winner: Iona

St. Mary's at Murray State

When: Saturday (Feb. 18), 6 p.m. (EST)

TV: ESPN

Players to watch: St. Mary's: guard Matthew Dellavedova (15.5 ppg & 6.4 apg) and forward Rob Jones (15.3 ppg & 10.8 rbg), Murray State: guards Isaiah Canaan (19.2 ppg) and Donte Poole (14.2 ppg)

By far, the game between the St. Mary's Gaels (23-4) and the Murray State Racers (25-1) is the marquee game on BracketBuster weekend.

Both teams are ranked—St. Mary's (21st) & Murray State (16th).

The Racers won their first 23 games before losing on Feb. 9 to Tennessee State (72-68). St. Mary's is in a battle with Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference. The Gaels lead the Bulldogs by only a half game, and have split two games with them this season.

This game is evenly matched, as both teams like to run. Both teams have star-quality players. Isaiah Canaan of Murray State is one of the best unheard of players in college basketball. St. Mary's power forward Rob Jones is a space-eater. At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Jones is a load on the interior—an area where the Racers have problems.

With both teams fighting for high seeds in the upcoming NCAA tournament, this game will be a good measuring stick. Both probably will receive tourney at-large bids if they lose their postseason conference tournaments.

Prediction: Pick your poison. Murray State has lost only one game. St. Mary's plays the tougher schedule. You cannot go wrong with either team. Winner: St. Mary's

Long Beach State at Creighton

When: Saturday (Feb. 18), 10 p.m. (EST)

TV: ESPN2

Players to watch: Long Beach State: guards Casper Ware (17.1) and Larry Anderson (14.9), Creighton: Doug McDermott (22.7 ppg & 8.1 rbg)

College basketball fans will get a glimpse of Creighton Bluejays' power forward Doug McDermott. McDermott is a monster near the basket, shooting 61 percent from the field. He is also a good shooter from three-point range (50 percent). However, McDermott—who plays for his father, Greg—does his damage underneath (eight double-doubles).

Creighton (22-5) plays in the tough Missouri Valley. Currently, the Blue Jays are second behind Wichita State, trailing the Shockers by two games.

Long Beach State (19-6) is on a roll. The 49ers have won 12 straight and have not lost since Dec. 25.

Their non-conference schedule was brutal—five games against ranked teams. However, Long Beach beat Pittsburgh (86-76) and Xavier (68-58). Two of their losses were to Kansas (88-80) and North Carolina (84-78).

Guard Casper Ware is a player to keep an eye on. Ware can get hot at times—he's scored 20-plus points seven times.

Prediction: The 49ers are battle-tested, but Creighton is tough on their homecourt. This game will come down to one player: McDermott. If McDermott gets off to a good start, Long Beach State will be in for a long game. Winner: Creighton.