Conference Tournament Previews (March 3-6 starting dates)
America East
March 6-8, 14
Albany, NY
Favorite: Vermont
Run for Favorite's Money: Boston
Championship Game: Vermont vs. Binghamton
And the Winner Is: Vermont ... The Catamounts have good size, solid guards, great coaching, 7 wins in a row and they played George Mason and Maryland close in the early part of the season.
Atlantic Sun
March 4-7
Nashville, TN
Favorite: Jacksonville
Run for Favorite's Money: Belmont
Championship Game: Jacksonville vs. ETSU
And the Winner Is: ETSU ... Bucs split w/ Jacksonville earlier this season, including an OT loss at Jacksonville. Tough to stop the combo of Kevin Tiggs/Courtney Pigram.
Big South
March 3, 5, 7
Radford, VA (campus)
Favorite: Radford
Run for Favorite's Money: Liberty
Championship Game: Radford vs. VMI
And the Winner Is: Radford ... The Highlanders have too much size, home court advantage, three-point marksmen and not to mention they are winners of 15 of their last 17. Remember the name Art Parakhouski come NCAA tournament, us alum just like to call him Big Art.
Colonial
March 6-9
Richmond, VA
Favorite: VCU
Run for Favorite's Money: Old Dominion
Championship Game: VCU vs. George Mason
And the Winner Is: VCU ... After last year's early exit, it's hard to imagine the Rams would be sent home packing and not getting to the championship game. Larry Sanders-Eric Maynor present one of the best inside-outside combinations on the East Coast. Oh and with the game on the line, Maynor is clutch.
Horizon
March 3, 6-7, 10
Indianapolis, IN (campus)
Favorite: Butler
Run for Favorite's Money: Green Bay
Championship Game: Butler vs. Cleveland St.
And the Winner Is: Butler ... They are the best team in the conference and maybe in the state. If you haven't seen Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack play together, you're missing out. Every bubble team in their right mind is rooting for the Bulldogs.
MAAC
March 3, 5, 7
Albany, NY
Favorite: Siena
Run for Favorite's Money: Niagara
Championship Game: Siena vs. Niagara
And the Winner Is: Siena ... Too much talent, to be frank. The Saints have seven guys that score in bunches - with Kenny Hasbrough, Edwin Ubiles and Alex Franklin leading the way - and their tourney profile is good, but they are determined to lock up the automatic bid instead of sweating it out for an at-large. Other bubble teams would like to see them win the MAAC tourney as well.
Missouri Valley
March 5-8
St. Louis
Favorite: Creighton
Run for Favorite's Money: Illinois State
Championship Game: Creighton vs. Northern Iowa
And the Winner Is: Creighton ... Head Coach Dana Altman is very much a reason why Creighton has had so much success and why they should be the favorites to win the MVC. That and the Bluejays have a backcourt of Booker Woodfox and P'Allen Stinnett.
Northeast
March 5, 8, 11
Coraopolis, PA (campus)
Favorite: Robert Morris
Run for Favorite's Money: Sacred Heart
Championship Game: Robert Morris vs. Mount St. Mary's
And the Winner Is: Mt. St. Mary's ... Yes, Robert Morris are the heavy favorites, but the Mount is fresh off an NCAA tourney appearance last season and 12-3 in its last 15 games. I'm smelling upset city.
Ohio Valley
March 3, 6-7
Nashville, TN
Favorite: Tennessee-Martin
Run for Favorite's Money: Murray State
Championship Game: Tennessee-Martin vs. Austin Peay
And the Winner Is: Tennessee-Martin ... Lester Hudson is the best player in the country you have never heard of. As he - and his 27.1 PPG (2nd in nation) go - so do the Bayhawks.
Patriot
March 4, 8, 13
Washington, DC (campus)
Favorite: American
Run for Favorite's Money: Holy Cross
Championship Game: American vs. Holy Cross
And the Winner Is: American ... Since the championship game will be held at American, Jeff Jones and his Eagles have a very good chance at dancing for a second year in a row, thanks to their 11-1 home record.
Southern
March 6-9
Chattanooga, TN
Favorite: Davidson
Run for Favorite's Money: College of Charleston
Championship Game: Davidson vs. College of Charleston
And the Winner Is: Davidson ... Seth Curry ring a bell? What's an NCAA tournament without Curry and the Wildcats? Winning the conference tourney is the only way of the 'Cats getting in.
Sun Belt
March 4, 7-10
Hot Springs, AR
Favorite: Western Kentucky
Run for Favorite's Money: Troy
Championship Game: Western Kentucky vs. Arkansas-Little Rock
And the Winner Is: Western Kentucky ... The Hilltoppers have beaten Arkansas-Little Rock by a combined 42 points in two games earlier this season. WKU has NCAA tourney experience and have had a solid season, despite losing Courtney Lee (last year's stud). Keep your eye on junior guard A.J. Slaughter, arguably the best player in the conference.
West Coast
March 6-9
Las Vegas
Favorite: Gonzaga
Run for Favorite's Money: St. Mary's
Championship Game: Gonzaga vs. St. Mary's
And the Winner Is: St. Mary's ... While Gonzaga has all the momentum in the world, St. Mary's has Patty Mills coming back. With a healthy Mills, St. Mary's can, well, give a run for the favorite's money.
March 6-8, 14
Albany, NY
Favorite: Vermont
Run for Favorite's Money: Boston
Championship Game: Vermont vs. Binghamton
And the Winner Is: Vermont ... The Catamounts have good size, solid guards, great coaching, 7 wins in a row and they played George Mason and Maryland close in the early part of the season.
Atlantic Sun
March 4-7
Nashville, TN
Favorite: Jacksonville
Run for Favorite's Money: Belmont
Championship Game: Jacksonville vs. ETSU
And the Winner Is: ETSU ... Bucs split w/ Jacksonville earlier this season, including an OT loss at Jacksonville. Tough to stop the combo of Kevin Tiggs/Courtney Pigram.
Big South
March 3, 5, 7
Radford, VA (campus)
Favorite: Radford
Run for Favorite's Money: Liberty
Championship Game: Radford vs. VMI
And the Winner Is: Radford ... The Highlanders have too much size, home court advantage, three-point marksmen and not to mention they are winners of 15 of their last 17. Remember the name Art Parakhouski come NCAA tournament, us alum just like to call him Big Art.
Colonial
March 6-9
Richmond, VA
Favorite: VCU
Run for Favorite's Money: Old Dominion
Championship Game: VCU vs. George Mason
And the Winner Is: VCU ... After last year's early exit, it's hard to imagine the Rams would be sent home packing and not getting to the championship game. Larry Sanders-Eric Maynor present one of the best inside-outside combinations on the East Coast. Oh and with the game on the line, Maynor is clutch.
Horizon
March 3, 6-7, 10
Indianapolis, IN (campus)
Favorite: Butler
Run for Favorite's Money: Green Bay
Championship Game: Butler vs. Cleveland St.
And the Winner Is: Butler ... They are the best team in the conference and maybe in the state. If you haven't seen Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack play together, you're missing out. Every bubble team in their right mind is rooting for the Bulldogs.
MAAC
March 3, 5, 7
Albany, NY
Favorite: Siena
Run for Favorite's Money: Niagara
Championship Game: Siena vs. Niagara
And the Winner Is: Siena ... Too much talent, to be frank. The Saints have seven guys that score in bunches - with Kenny Hasbrough, Edwin Ubiles and Alex Franklin leading the way - and their tourney profile is good, but they are determined to lock up the automatic bid instead of sweating it out for an at-large. Other bubble teams would like to see them win the MAAC tourney as well.
Missouri Valley
March 5-8
St. Louis
Favorite: Creighton
Run for Favorite's Money: Illinois State
Championship Game: Creighton vs. Northern Iowa
And the Winner Is: Creighton ... Head Coach Dana Altman is very much a reason why Creighton has had so much success and why they should be the favorites to win the MVC. That and the Bluejays have a backcourt of Booker Woodfox and P'Allen Stinnett.
Northeast
March 5, 8, 11
Coraopolis, PA (campus)
Favorite: Robert Morris
Run for Favorite's Money: Sacred Heart
Championship Game: Robert Morris vs. Mount St. Mary's
And the Winner Is: Mt. St. Mary's ... Yes, Robert Morris are the heavy favorites, but the Mount is fresh off an NCAA tourney appearance last season and 12-3 in its last 15 games. I'm smelling upset city.
Ohio Valley
March 3, 6-7
Nashville, TN
Favorite: Tennessee-Martin
Run for Favorite's Money: Murray State
Championship Game: Tennessee-Martin vs. Austin Peay
And the Winner Is: Tennessee-Martin ... Lester Hudson is the best player in the country you have never heard of. As he - and his 27.1 PPG (2nd in nation) go - so do the Bayhawks.
Patriot
March 4, 8, 13
Washington, DC (campus)
Favorite: American
Run for Favorite's Money: Holy Cross
Championship Game: American vs. Holy Cross
And the Winner Is: American ... Since the championship game will be held at American, Jeff Jones and his Eagles have a very good chance at dancing for a second year in a row, thanks to their 11-1 home record.
Southern
March 6-9
Chattanooga, TN
Favorite: Davidson
Run for Favorite's Money: College of Charleston
Championship Game: Davidson vs. College of Charleston
And the Winner Is: Davidson ... Seth Curry ring a bell? What's an NCAA tournament without Curry and the Wildcats? Winning the conference tourney is the only way of the 'Cats getting in.
Sun Belt
March 4, 7-10
Hot Springs, AR
Favorite: Western Kentucky
Run for Favorite's Money: Troy
Championship Game: Western Kentucky vs. Arkansas-Little Rock
And the Winner Is: Western Kentucky ... The Hilltoppers have beaten Arkansas-Little Rock by a combined 42 points in two games earlier this season. WKU has NCAA tourney experience and have had a solid season, despite losing Courtney Lee (last year's stud). Keep your eye on junior guard A.J. Slaughter, arguably the best player in the conference.
West Coast
March 6-9
Las Vegas
Favorite: Gonzaga
Run for Favorite's Money: St. Mary's
Championship Game: Gonzaga vs. St. Mary's
And the Winner Is: St. Mary's ... While Gonzaga has all the momentum in the world, St. Mary's has Patty Mills coming back. With a healthy Mills, St. Mary's can, well, give a run for the favorite's money.
Posted by Doug McKinney at 3/4/2009 11:54 AM 
Categories: NCAA BB
Tags: Sun Belt MAAC Horizon Big South Atlantic Sun Missouri Valley West Coast Northeast Patriot Ohio Valley America East Colonial Southern
Categories: NCAA BB
Tags: Sun Belt MAAC Horizon Big South Atlantic Sun Missouri Valley West Coast Northeast Patriot Ohio Valley America East Colonial Southern
I love the Western Kentucky pick! We are going to shock the world again!
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