College Basketball: Conference Tournament Previews

PATRIOT LEAGUE

Bucknell and American are way ahead of the pack in this league. Bucknell ran through Patriot League competition with only one loss, and American with only three. Too bad for the Eagles for two of those losses came from the Bison.

Nothing really to say here, but to expect Part 3 with Bucknell winning again.

MISSOURI VALLEY

I’m used to seeing multiple bids come from this league, but the trend of it being one-bid for the past few seasons has to be troubling for commissioner Doug Elgin.

Despite this, there are still teams in this conference that can win a game in the NCAA tournament.

The Missouri State Bears finished in first place, with the Wichita State Shockers one game behind. The two teams were the most consistent all year and appear to be on a collision course.

In Round 3, expect the Shockers to come out on top.

NORTHEAST

Long Island’s up-tempo style has led to an impressive 16-2 league record. In fact, the Blackbirds have only lost once in the 2011 calendar year. Given the fact that this tournament is played entirely on home courts, give them an extra advantage.

The Blackbirds should expect a challenge from the tournament-tested Robert Morris Colonials, but this team is head and shoulders above the rest of the league and will make their way to the NCAA tournament.

COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

This one should be interesting. After back-to-back losses to Hofstra and Old Dominion, George Mason ran off 15 wins in a row to put a stamp on an at-large bid.

Old Dominion, by virtue of stellar play in the non-conference, did the same. The question right now goes to the hunger of both teams and I believe both may already know they’re dancing.

One team, however, isn’t going to be dancing without an automatic bid and I expect it to come out firing on all cylinders.

Virginia Commonwealth, at home in Richmond, will “steal” a bid and punch its ticket to the NCAA tournament.

METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC

After its impressive showing in BracketBusters, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) became one of the most intriguing leagues in the country.

The conference tournament is usually entertaining and this year should be no different.

Fairfield finished first in the regular season but showed kinks in the armor in losses to Rider and Iona, the two teams that tied for second.

Iona, by virtue of being hot at the right time, seems to be surging towards a NCAA bid, which it’ll get.

SOUTHERN

College of Charleston was cruising through league play until the last week of the regular season, when it lost its final two games. That brought the team into a tie for the South Division and league title, with defending champion Wofford.

Although Charleston has a win over Tennessee and an almost win at Maryland, I think it's going to be tough for them to navigate through this tournament.

Chattanooga and Wofford will meet in Round 3 with Wofford making a repeat trip to the NCAA tournament.

WEST COAST

St. Mary’s and Gonzaga both have at-large hopes with Gonzaga’s chances being a tad bit better at the moment.

Given that the tournament is set up to give the top two teams an advantage, expect to see the two class programs in the conference go at it one more time.

It will be a heavyweight slugfest in Vegas with St. Mary’s getting an automatic bid, ensuring that two WCC teams go dancing.

AMERICA EAST

Vermont and Boston University have been the two best teams in league play, but neither is perfect.

Maine had a run at both of them and should be in the mix this weekend in Hartford.

However, I still believe that Vermont and Boston will get through a tough tournament to meet for all the marbles once again.

Boston will not be able to finish Vermont for a third time, and the Vermont Catamounts will go dancing.